Achievements

• Cassandra Giese of Batavia was recently awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1,200 from a scholarship program underwritten by Con-way Inc., one of the nation’s leading freight transportation and logistics firms. Cassandra is the daughter of Menlo Worldwide Aurora employee Karen Giese. The Batavia native is entering her second year at Elmhurst College where she is majoring in education. While in college, Cassandra has been awarded a Presidential Scholarship, appeared on the dean’s list and played on the soccer team. She is a graduate of Batavia High School.

• Shannon Bajak graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as “Operation Warrior Forge,” at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The 33 days of training provide training and evaluation for cadets in aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. Cadets in their junior and senior year of college must complete the leadership development course. Upon successful completion of the course, the ROTC program, and graduation from college, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, National Guard, or Reserve.

The cadet is a student at the University of St. Francis, Joliet. She is the daughter of Teri Jordan of Batavia. Bajak is a 2004 graduate of Plainfield High School.

• Sarah Thomas of Geneva was named to the fall and spring dean’s lists at Dominican University in River Forest. She was also inducted as a member of Sigma Iota Epsilon, the premiere fraternal organization in management in the United States. She is a 2004 graduate of Geneva High School.

• Brandon Weiss of St. Charles has graduated from the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The ROTC cadet has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. The 33 days of training provide training and evaluation for cadets in aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. Cadets in their junior and senior year of college must complete the leadership development course. Upon successful completion of the course, the ROTC program, and graduation from college, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, National Guard, or Reserve. He is the son of Charles and Kerri Weiss of St. Charles. Weiss graduated from a home school program in 2001, and received a bachelor's degree in 2007 from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.