Army Pvt. Gregory M. Plover Jr., a 2000 graduate of W.B. Saul Agricultural High School, has graduated from One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Knox, Ky., which consisted of basic military training and advanced individual training (AIT).

Robert Barsotti, Ph.D., of Chestnut Hill, an associate professor of pathology, anatomy and cell biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, was among those honored on May 12 as a 'Top Researcher' by the American Heart Association. Barsotti's research centers on the fundamental mechanisms of how calcium controls the intensity of heart muscle contraction.

Alba Martinez, of Mt. Airy, has been appointed president and CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Martinez, previously the City Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, replaces Christine James-Brown, who headed UWSEPA for 10 years before leaving to become president of United Way International earlier this year.

Cozen O'Connor is the recipient of the 2004 Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (VIP) Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Award for providing free legal services to the greatest number of VIP clients. Cozen O'Connor attorneys took 60 pro bono cases in 2003, totaling more than 16,000 hours of service. Peter G. Rossi, of Wyndmoor, is chairperson of the firm's pro bono committee.

Architect Mary Holland, who is one of the principals of CICADA Architecture/Planners Inc., Germantown, was appointed to the Springfield (Montgomery County) Planning Commission last month, where she will serve a four-year term on the nine-member panel.

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American University Washington College of Law student David Baluarte was awarded an Equal Justice Foundation Fellowship for the summer of 2004. He will work at the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project in Oakland, Calif. over the summer. Baluarte, who received a B.A. in international relations from Brown University, is the son of Jorge and Kathleen Baluarte and grew up in West Mt. Airy.

Bishop McDevitt High School participated in the 2004 Montgomery County Reading Olympics on April 20 at Wissahickon High School and came away with two blue ribbons. Two teams were entered and both were undefeated after three rounds of competition with Lansdale Catholic H.S., Cheltenham H.S., Jenkintown H.S. and North Penn H.S.

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Dean's List for winter '04 term: Emily Ballengee, of Chestnut Hill, Washington & Lee University; Shamrock Anne Kennedy, of Flourtown, Fairfield University; Mary Elizabeth Zell, of Mt. Airy, Northwestern University.

Spring honors: Jessica Samph, of Chestnut Hill, Skidmore College.

La Salle University honor society: Sandra Smith, of Germantown.

The following La Salle University students made the dean's list for the fall 2003 semester. From Chestnut Hill: Gracia Patricia Jardinero Abadesco, Dana A. Breashears, James J. McCafferty, Ivanna Pelekh, Theresa Ryan, John David Sprandio and Kathleen Margaret Currie. From Mt. Airy: Della P. Allen-Sumpter, Nicole Shackelford and Antonio W. Webster. From Roxborough:  Nicholas Joseph Adornetto, Kanini Nigali Butler, David Gregory DiGiovanni, Sabina L. Keller, Lauren Mary Long, Walter Thomas McAllister, Joseph Patrick McEntee, Alice L. Myers, John F. Parkinson, Thomas Anthony Plick, Matthew James Quinn, Jennifer Ann Rauscher, Lauren A. Reilly, Patricia Westerfer and Christopher L. Young.