People We Know

• Kaitlyn Klapperich of Wasilla received the Victoria Award during commencement exercises at Central Methodist University, Fayette, Missouri. It is the highest student award the institution gives. Recipients are nominated by university faculty and staff and are presented prestigious awards to senior graduates during the May commencement.

She received the Dr. Robert Barker Award for Excellence in Sociology; the Communication Department Student Media Award; and the Pi Gamma Mu Award for Scholastic Excellence; and was inducted into the Sigma Epsilon Pi, the honors fraternity awarded to the academic top 10 percent of the graduating class.

Klapperich also was one of a dozen graduating seniors who completed the Honors Program, and were designated as Honors Program graduates, during Commencement exercises May 9. Her thesis was “A Qualitative Analysis of the Gender and Sexuality Politics within College Athletics,” supervised by Professor Brent Myer.

• Samuel M. Hansen, who attended Valley Pathways High School, Palmer, graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in chemistry from Park University, Parkville, Missouri.

• Daniel Konkler, of Palmer, will graduate May 16 with a bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology and exercise science from University of Hawaii at Hilo. He is a 2010 graduate of Palmer High School and the son of Joe and Jody Konkler of Palmer.

• Sophomore Jordan Bartolo of Wasilla has been selected for the Bonner Scholar Program at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana. She is one of 15 incoming students to participate in the four-year program, which requires students to complete 140 hours of service per semester, and two summers of service. She is the daughter of Juliet and Scott Bartolo of Wasilla.

• Erika Graham of Wasilla was named to the spring 2015 dean’s list at Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee.

• Brandy Sweet of Palmer was named to the spring 2015 dean’s list at Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee.