Stratford Students Make the Grade: May 3

These students may have moved on to school outside of Stratford, but they are still making their hometown proud by making the grade.

Michelle Karasik, from Stratford, Conn., was named to the Dean's List at Villanova University for the fall 2011 semester. Karasik is enrolled in the Villanova School of Business.

Villanova University Dean's List recipients are honored by their college's respective dean. To qualify, one must be a matriculated full-time student and earn a semester grade point average of at least 3.5.

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Shannon Dempsey of Stratford was among 554 students who made the Dean's Honor List at California Lutheran University for the fall semester.

Dempsey is a senior and a communication major.

Students qualify for the Dean's List by maintaining a 3.6 grade point average in their academic subjects.

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The Eastern Connecticut State University Foundation's competitive scholarship awards are based on merit and, in many cases, unmet financial need. The scholarship process is coordinated by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

The following local students were among the approximately 300 ECSU students to receive ECSU Foundation competitive scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year:

Eric Cerino '14 of Stratford, CT. A Psychology major, Cerino was awarded the General Endowment Scholarship.

Kelsey Guggenheim '13 of Stratford, CT. A Theatre major, Guggenheim was awarded the ECSU Foundation Scholarship.

Rachel Junga '13 of Stratford, CT. A Psychology major, Junga was awarded the President's Charity Game Scholarship.

The total amount of scholarship funds awarded by the ECSU Foundation totaled a record $450,000.

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Courtney A. Fitzpatrick of Stratford, CT, has been inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society at Western New England University. Fitzpatrick is a Junior majoring in Marketing at the University.

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The following area residents were inducted into international business honor society at Quinnipiac University:

Brett Palatiello of Stratford, Conn.

Sean Driscoll of Stratford, Conn.

To be eligible for induction, students must be ranked in the top 10 percent of their junior or senior class or the top 20 percent of their master's class. In addition, they must also maintain a grade point average that is above 3.75. This is the highest honor business students at Quinnipiac can earn.

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T.J Riordan, of Stratford, CT, participated in "Thumbelina," which played at Marist College for eight performances in late March.

Riordan, a Marist College Senior, performed the role of Baron Beetle III in the play, which tells the story of a girl no bigger than a thumb who is searching for her place in the world. Every year, the Marist College Council on Theatre Arts (MCCTA) produces show for children and invites local elementary schools.

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A number of Eastern Connecticut State University students have been participating in Pathways to Leadership, a tiered student leadership program series.

Joelle Schrock '12 of Stratford, CT, is a participant of the Pathways to Leadership program. Schrock's major is Communication.

Daniel Whipple '14 of Stratford, CT, is a participant of the Pathways to Leadership program. Whipple's major is Sport & Leisure Management.

Know of an achieving young Stratford academic whose name does not appear above? Please include his or her name and accomplishment in the comments section below and we'll add it to the article.