Getting it Done at College: Training Service Dogs, Earning Honors, Traveling Abroad and More

We just love putting together these lists that highlight the extraordinary achievement of Elmhurst students at colleges all over the United States. Do you know a college student who should be featured here? Send an email to Karen Chadra, karenc@patch.com.

Stephanie Dantino is part of Augustana College's Viking Pups. Dogs aren't usually seen in college classrooms, but at Augustana College, Rock Island, it has become a fairly common sight and a source of pride. Viking Pups is a service, facility and therapy dog training club that fosters, socializes and trains dogs on campus in partnership with the Quad Cities Canine Assistance Network. The program takes dogs from puppyhood to placement as a service dog. The dogs go to classes with students, and are commonly seen in the library, dining halls and at sporting events. Dantino is senior majoring in biology and pre-veterinary medicine, and a school foster and handler for Viking Pups.

When she wasn't training dogs, Stephanie Dantino also was among 50 Augustana College students who studied and worked in Sydney, Australia, for the first two months of 2013. The international study program, known as Augustana in Australia, places students in career-relevant positions in Sydney and immerses them in Australian culture. The students completed a five-week on-campus internship seminar and a complimentary class in either intercultural communication or business ethics before leaving for Australia in January. Once in Australia, students worked for a variety of employers in numerous fields—from healthcare to education, hospitality and nonprofit work. They also visited numerous significant sites in Australia and New Zealand. Students returned to the United States on March 2.

Lauralee Johnson was named to the deans list for the fall semester at Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, Calif. Johnson is a liberal studies major at the evangelical Christian university.

Mary Beth McLean spent spring break working at a Habitat for Humanity housing site in Mount Airy, N.C. She is a member of the class of 2013 at Providence College, Providence, R.I. McLean was among more than 230 Providence College students who volunteered to spend their spring break working at Habitat home sites in 16 locations in the United States. Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization that builds and rehabilitates decent, affordable houses in partnership with those in need of shelter.

Danielle Hepko, a senior double-majoring in art and apparel design at Dominican University, River Forest, will showcase her designs at the university's annual spring fashion show April 6 and 7. The fashion show, themed Pastiche, will showcase more than 100 garments created by apparel design students. The professional-quality runway show, presented by senior students in the Department of Apparel Design and Merchandising, is judged by industry veterans. The garments highlight each designer's unique style, ranging from ready-to-wear apparel to avant-garde pieces. The show will conclude with senior collections designed by each senior apparel design student. On April 7, Dominican President Donna M. Carroll will present students with scholarships and awards.

Benedictine University, Lisle, announced its dean's list and dean's recognized list for the fall semester. The dean's list recognizes full-time students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average or above, and the recognized list honors part-time students who achieve 3.5 or above. Named to the dean's list are Emil Antony, Madelyn Fiene, Lucy Poro, Rex Rajan, Stephanie Samuel and Jessica Wangler. Dean's recognized list includes John Konstantelos and Valerie Senter.

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, announced the following students were named to the dean's list for the first semester: Alexandra Lynn Annicella, Brendan Burns Connelly, Zachary William Craggs and Connor James McDonnell.

Lucas Charles Regole earned a bachelor of arts degree from Miami University in December.

Matthew Krause, a third-year student at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, N.Y., was named to the dean's list for the winter quarter. He is a student in the College of Applied Science and Technology.