People We Know

• 2008 Palmer High School graduate Keith Christopher was named to the College of Engineering dean’s list for the spring 2011 and fall 2011 semesters at the University of Idaho. A senior studying chemical engineering, Christopher is scheduled to graduate in May. He has applied for graduate school, while sorting through job offers. He also was captain of the Palmer varsity baseball team in 2008. He is the son of Pete and Denise Christopher.

• Big Lake Elementary School fifth-grader Jenni Erskine is a semi-finalist in the 2012 Alaska Geographic Bee March 30 at the Egan Convention and Visitors Center in Anchorage. She is the daughter of Darla and George Erskine.

• American Charter Academy eighth-grader Amelia Mikkelsen is a semi-finalist in the 2012 Alaska Geographic Bee March 30 at the Egan Convention and Visitors Center in Anchorage. She is the daughter of Tim and Laura Mikkelsen.

• Dunedin Strickland, Palmer, was named to the fall 2011 dean’s list at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

• Madelyn Peterson, Palmer, presented her research at a press conference Feb. 16 at Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash. She was one of 15 students participating in a research course at Whitman College called "The State of the State for Washington Latinos." The daughter of Marc and Virginia Peterson, she is a 2009 graduate of Palmer High School and is a junior studying environmental studies and politics.

• Jessica Monaghan, Wasilla, received a 2012 Presidential Scholarship from Iowa Lakes Community College. The awards honor students with high academic ability.

• Pork producer Richard Worrell of Wasilla served as a delegate at the Pork Act Delegate assembly March 1 to 3 in Denver, Colo. Worrell was named a delegate by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

• Teeland Middle School seventh-grader Taia Fagerstrom won the 2012 Alaska State Spelling Bee. She will represent Alaska at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, slated for May 27 to June 1 in Washington, D.C.

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