Achievements

• Rosanna D’Orazio of West Chicago has been inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta at North Central College, the national honor society for freshmen. An induction ceremony was held on May 15 during Honors Day, a day set aside to celebrate students’ academic achievements and undergraduate research.

• Southern Illinois University Carbondale named 3,315 students to its spring semester Dean’s Lists. These students make up roughly 20 percent of the University’s undergraduate student body. Sara Kufta of West Chicago has been named to the Dean’s List. Students from Winfield include Brandi Bodie, Grant Brown, Kaylee Jaros and Eric Oglanian. Dean’s List recognition goes to students who compile grade point averages that meet or exceed performance standards set by SIUC’s schools and colleges. The minimum standards vary by college and range from 3.25 to 3.75 on a scale of 4.0. The asterisk denotes straight ‘A’ grades for the semester.

• Andrew King has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. The 28-day course is a leadership internship for cadets who are normally between their sophomore and junior college years. College students experience and examine the Army without incurring an obligation to serve in the Army or ROTC, and are eligible to receive two-year college scholarship offers and attend the ROTC Advanced Course at their college. The Army observes and evaluates cadets to determine their officer potential in leadership abilities and skills. The cadets are trained to have a sound understanding of traditional leadership values during the challenging, motivating “hands-on” training. The training develops well-disciplined, highly motivated, physically conditioned students, and helps improve the cadets’ self-confidence, initiative, leadership potential, decision making and collective team cohesion. The cadets receive training in fundamental military skills, rifle marksmanship, small arms tactics, weapons training, drill and ceremonies, communications and squad-level operations field training. The cadet is a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the son of Charles and Karen King of Winfield. King is a 2004 graduate of Wheaton North High School.

• Joshua L. Foster has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He is the son of Kelli Borchering and nephew of Cristy Baker, both of West Chicago. Foster is a 2004 graduate of Community High School.

• Michael Smolucha graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as “Operation Warrior Forge,” at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The 33 days of training provide the best possible professional training and evaluation for all cadets in the aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. Although continued military training and leadership development is included in the curriculum, the primary focus of the course is to develop and evaluate each cadet’s officer potential as a leader by exercising the cadet’s intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and physical stamina. The cadet command assesses each cadet’s performance and progress in officer traits, qualities and professionalism while attending the course. 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 North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega, Ga. He is the son of Stanley and Patricia Smolucha of Winfield. Smolucha is a 2004 graduate of West Chicago High School.