College news

The following local residents have been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.: Ashley Kowal of Newton and Alyssa Dhawan of Stanhope. Gina Grosso of Newton, a junior at Rider University in Lawrenceville, is one of the top 10 pairs of finalists in the MTV U Oscar Red Carpet Correspondent Contest. If she and her partner win, they will appear on the red carpet for the 82nd annual Academy Awards next month. Grosso and her partner, who both worked at the Rider University Network studio together, teamed up to create a short video about why they should be chosen to cover the Oscars on March 7. In order to advance to the next round of the competition, finalists will be selected by the number of online votes cast by the public. The top three finalists will fly to Los Angeles to take part in the events of the weekend, and one winning team will be chosen to cover the Academy Awards from the “famed” red carpet. Gregory W. Barkhauer of Sparta graduated in December from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa. Barkhauer earned a bachelor of arts in sociology. Matthew Cornish of Sparta has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester at Villanova University. Brian Cornish of Sparta has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester at of the College of the Arts and Communication at William Paterson University in Wayne. Cornish performs locally with his band, BSJQ, at Arthur’s St. Moritz in Sparta. Vincent Fiorentino of Sparta was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester at The College of New Jersey in Ewing., He is a member of The International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma. Krista Fiorentino of Sparta was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester at Ramapo College in Mahwah. Nicole Fiorentino of Sparta was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester at Muhlenberg College in Allentown.