Banning, Beaumont, Cherry Valley Students Make Deans' List at Azusa Pacific University

Four students from Banning, Beaumont and Cherry Valley have earned places on the academic Deans' List at Azusa Pacific University, it was announced Tuesday.

They were honored for a fall semester 2010 academic standing of a 3.5 or better grade-point average, according to the university.

Azusa Pacific University officials identified the four local Deans' List students as:

- Lidia Miranda of Banning, a Biochemistry major.

- Kimberlee E. Ellington of Beaumont, a Cinematic Arts major.

- Megan G. Jones of Beaumont, a Psychology major.

- Brooke A. Gerken of Cherry Valley, a Global Studies major.

Miranda, 19, graduated from Banning High School in 2009. She is in her second year at Azusa Pacific University, and she is considered a second-semester junior in units because of AP credit and CLEP test credit.

Her Pre-Med major is Biochemistry with a Spanish minor. She works part-time at the Office of Ministry and Service on campus.

Miranda is also a Student Ministry Coordiator for the Azusa Food Bank Ministry, she told Patch, "where I do everything from recruiting student volunteers and lead them in volunteering at local food banks of Azusa."

She is a member of the Phi-Delta Epsilon Pre-Medical Fraternity and she is a Multi-Ethnic Leadership Scholar.

Azusa Pacific University is an evangelical, Christian university committed to "God First" and excellence in higher education.

With 53 undergraduate majors, 37 master's degrees, 21 credentials, 7 doctoral programs, and 5 certificates, the university offers imore than 9,200 students a "quality education on campus, online, and at seven regional centers throughout Southern California," university officials said in a statement.

More information about Azusa Pacific University is available at www.apu.edu.