Sarah F. Priest of Chapel Hill made the honor roll for the fall semester at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Conn. She is the daughter of Nancy E. Oates.

Anne Carlstein of Chapel Hill won third place in the 2007 Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators National Contest at the third-grade level. Her story was titled "The Magical Backpack." She has won first place at the contest's state level for three years in a row. She is the daughter of Marjorie and Ed Carlstein.

Six students from Carrboro were named to the dean's list for the fall 2007 semester at Alamance Community College. They are Kevin Home Cox, Sarah Elise Galfano, Christopher Erick Johnson, Steven Michael Stanley, Tyler Nathan Temple and Steven David Testerman. To qualify for the list, a full-time student must have a 3.3 to 3.7 grade-point average (out of a possible 4.0) and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Sarah E. Chamberlin of Hillsborough was named to the dean's list for the fall semester 2007 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. She is the daughter of Robert and Jeanne Chamberlin and a 2006 graduate of Durham Academy Upper School in Durham. To qualify for the list, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0.

Daniel Hilgenberg, a graduate of the industrial design program in Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies, has invented a wearable computer case. The case for a laptop computer can be worn like a backpack or suspended on the chest, where it can swing down to create a work platform that allows for computer use while standing. Hilgenberg grew up in Chapel Hill and lives in Mebane.

Alice Pettitt, an extension agent with Cooperative Extension in Orange County, has received the Continued Excellence Award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She has worked for the Cooperative Extension for more than 32 years and has worked in Orange County for the last 21 years.

Eight students from Chapel Hill were named to the dean's list for the fall 2007 semester at Alamance Community College. They are Etna Torcoroma Claro, Lauren Elizabeth Hussey, Tyler J. Mason, Caroline Nicole Morris, Pedro Ivo Deoliveira Nicolelis, Robin Marie Pinheiro, Stacey Elizabeth Smith and Nate John Viall. To qualify for the list, a full-time student must have a 3.3 to 3.7 grade-point average (out of a possible 4.0) and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Tova Boehm of Chapel Hill performed in the Earlham College East Coast Choir Tour Jan. 4-8. The choir presented concerts in Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Cambridge, Mass. She is a senior and the daughter of Nancy Luberoff and Bruce Boehm of Chapel Hill.

David Schmoeller of Chapel Hill has been named to the dean's list for the fall semsester at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. He is the son of Margaret and Joe Schmoeller of Chapel Hill. He is a graduate of East Chapel Hill High School. To qualify for the list, a student must be a full-time, degree-seeking student with a semester grade-point average of at least 3.75, twelve or more credits on a regular grading option, no grades below C-, and no withdrawal or incomplete grades for the semester.

Thirteen students from Hillsborough were named to the dean's list for the fall 2007 semester at Alamance Community College. They are Nancy Carol Augustine, Mariah Spring Bell, Brittany Rae Deeds, Joshua Deane Dipaulo, Terri Louise Gupton, Dannielle Tiffany Johnson, Eve Michelle McKinley, Marie J. Newcomer, Shari Leigh Rasberry, Addison Richard Tatum, Kendra Mia Vincent, Ryan Douglas Wagner and Edward Joseph Zenobile. To qualify for the list, a full-time student must have a 3.3 to 3.7 grade-point average (out of a possible 4.0) and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Ellen R. Stanley received a bachelor's degree in sports management from N.C. State University during commencement ceremonies on Dec. 19. She is a graduate of East Chapel Hill High and the daughter of Mike and Donna Stanley of Chapel Hill. She works for the Carolina Railhawks soccer team in Cary.

Pam Liu of Chapel Hill was named to the dean's list at Duke University for the fall 2007 semester. To qualify for the list, a student must rank in the top third of her college. She is the daughter of Gexin Du and Yujun Liu.

Three students from Hillsborough were named to the dean's list for the fall 2007 semester at Alamance Community College. They are Krystal Renee Graves, Michelle Ann Solmen and Christopher Randy Van Name. To qualify for the list, a full-time student must have a 3.3 to 3.7 grade-point average (out of a possible 4.0) and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours.