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Mary M. Lawrence has been appointed the new executive director of the Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center, a nonprofit cancer support organization in Chapel Hill.
An experienced nonprofit manager, she has held CEO positions at several social service and health organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County, Ill. She has provided consulting and coaching services to leaders in the nonprofit sector in the areas of volunteerism, governance, capacity building, community relations, board development and communications.
Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center provides support services to people with cancer, their family members and caregivers since 1996.

Josh Zoffer of Chapel Hill, along with Robert Kindman of Durham, placed third in the in the Public Forum Debate Competition in the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Las Vegas June 15-20.
More than 240 teams qualified to debate the resolution, "Resolved: U.S. policies established after Sept. 11, 2001 have substantially reduced the risk of terrorist acts against the United States."
More than 3,000 debaters attended the tournament.

Zoffer and Kindman are rising juniors at Durham Academy.

Devon C. Hoffman, an Air National Guard Airman 1st Class, has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in 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 Christopher and Kathleen Hoffman of Cedar Grove.
Hoffman is a 2007 graduate of Orange High School in Hillsborough.

Bethany E. Chaney of Carrboro was one of three winners in the William Saroyan Society's Centennial Prizes for Short Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and One-Act Drama.
She won in the Creative Nonfiction category for her piece, "Learning the Alphabet."
Her entry and the other prize-winners will be published in In the Grove, and broadcast by KFCF-FM (88.1) in Fresno, California. In the Grove is an annual literary journal that publishes original poetry, fiction and nonfiction.
The competition, part of the centennial celebration of the birth of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright William Saroyan, was a joint partnership with the San Joaquin Valley Writing Project. Entries were received from throughout the United States, and also Canada and Armenia.

Joseph M. DeSimone, Chancellor's Eminent Professor of Chemistry at UNC and William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at N.C. State University, was awarded this year's $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize.
DeSimone won the honor for work in the development of groundbreaking solutions in green manufacturing and promising applications in gene therapy and drug delivery, as well as medical devices. The award recognizes his pioneering inventions, lab-to-marketplace entrepreneurship and commitment to mentorship.

Carolyn C. Dicus of Chapel Hill received a doctorate degree in dentistry, summa cum laude, from Boston University during commencement ceremonies in May.

Jonathan Liebtag of Chapel Hill received a master's degree in business administration and management from Boston University during commencement ceremonies in May.

Tannis K. McKenna received a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Boston University during commencement ceremonies in May.

Megan E. Barnett received a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Boston University during commencement ceremonies in May.