Brookline Student Success: 11th Grader Starting College, Dean's List for Union, Lawrence, Drexel Grads

The following press releases are via the readMedia Newswire, sent in the last week.

At a time when most high school students are still enjoying the summer, Nicole Pergantis is preparing to leave for college. After completing 11th grade at Brookline High School, the Brookline, MA, resident earned a place in the Bard College at Simon's Rock fall 2012 entering class.

Pergantis will join peers at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on Saturday, August 18 to begin her college career early. The campus is home to over 400 bright and highly motivated students engaged in a rigorous college education. Early college students are on track to graduate from college one or two years ahead of their peers.

"Simon's Rock receives a number of impressive applications every year," Steven Coleman, director of Admission said. "In a highly selective process, Pergantis 's achievements stood out."

About Bard College at Simon's Rock

Bard College at Simon's Rock (www.simons-rock.edu) has been a leader in the early college movement for more than 40 years and continues to distinguish itself as the only residential college in the country specifically designed to provide bright, highly motivated students with the opportunity to begin college immediately after the 10th or 11th grade. At Simon's Rock, students experience a transformative education in the liberal arts and sciences in the company of smart, independent, creative peers who share their excitement about learning and their desire to be part of a vibrant intellectual community.

Mara Kunin, daughter of James Kunin and Susan Guzmich, Brookline, has been named to the 2011-12 Lawrence University dean's list for maintaining a minimum 3.4 grade point average.

About Lawrence University

Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a world-class conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. Ranked among America's best colleges by Forbes, it was selected for inclusion in the book "Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College." Individualized learning, the development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,450 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries. Follow Lawrence on Facebook.

The following local residents were among the 750 Union College students named to the Dean's List:

• Aidan Bayer '15, a resident of Brookline, MA; Bayer is a Biology major and a 2011 graduate of Brookline High School.
• Phoebe Cooper '13, a resident of Brookline, MA; Cooper is a History major and a 2009 graduate of Brimmer And May School.
• George Haydock '14, a resident of Chestnut Hill, MA; Haydock is a English major and a 2009 graduate of Milton Academy.
• Zachary Jonas '14, a resident of Brookline, MA; Jonas is a Political Science major and a 2010 graduate of Brookline High School.
• Rebecca Shait '15, a resident of Chestnut Hill, MA; Shait is a Neuroscience major and a 2011 graduate of Newton South High School.

To be named to the Dean's List, Union students must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the academic year and meet certain other requirements.

Union College, founded in 1795 as the first college chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, offers programs in the liberal arts and engineering to 2,100 undergraduates of high academic promise and strong personal motivation. Union, with its long history of blending disciplines, is a leader in educating students to be engaged, innovative and ethical contributors to an increasingly diverse, global and technologically complex society.

Several local residents graduated from Drexel University. More than 5,000 students received degrees from Drexel this year at the University's 125th Commencement. Congratulations to the following students:

• Chestnut Hill resident Diana Distefano graduated from Drexel's Bennett S. LeBow College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

• Brookline resident Joshua Edelman graduated from Drexel's College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

• Brookline resident Charles Garmel graduated from Drexel's College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Speakers and honorary degree recipients of the Drexel commencement ceremonies included: Linda Gooden, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) business area and an officer of the Lockheed and Martin Corporation, Paul R. Ehrlich, a prominent ecologist and evolutionist, Sheila Bair, 19th Chairperson of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), David A. Kessler, M.D., former commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration, and Nile G. Rodgers, American musician, composer, arranger and guitarist.

Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel is the nation's 14th largest private university and is ranked among the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report." Drexel is widely recognized for its focus on experiential learning through its co-operative education program and translational research initiatives.