Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Class Acts *

* Area residents named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., are:

Kathleen C. Gassaway, of Waco, a senior English major. She is the daughter of Michael Gassaway.

Alexandria C. Wommack, of Woodway, a freshman theater major. Wommack is the daughter of Susan Wommack.

Kallen K. Amos, of Woodway, a sophomore psychology major. Amos is the daughter of Richard Amos.

* Travis McAninch, a 2010 graduate of Lorena High School, was named to the dean’s list at the University of Alabama for the fall semester. He was also inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, the national freshman honor society.

* Malorie White, a Robinson High School graduate, was named to the president’s list at the University of North Texas in Denton for the fall semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is a senior at UNT, doing her student teaching at Keller ISD.

She is majoring in interdis-ciplinary studies, E-6. Her parents are Darrell and Janice White of Robinson.

* Applause *

* Mission Waco recognized its volunteers of the year for 2010 during a banquet Tuesday at the Waco Convention Center.

Students — Catie Collins, Will Engle, Ariel Stevenson and Sal La Mastra, all of Baylor.

Adults — Cheryl Stephenson; Melissa and Don Naylor; Julie Sadler; and Kay Furman, all of Waco

Special families of the year — Kenneth and Misti Turbeville, sons Nash and Alan, and daughter Alicia and her husband, Justin Murphy; Andrew and Mandy Wells.

Special groups — KXA Sorority; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Churches of the year: — Community Fellowship of the Nazarene; Meadowbrook Baptist Church.

Philanthropists of the year — First National Bank of Central Texas; Dr. Mike Loden/Dr. Keith Boles.

Businesses of the year — Pizza Hut; Books-a-Mission (Mark Batson).

* CPA Jennifer Martinka has been named governmental audit manager at the accounting firm Pattillo, Brown & Hill LLP. She received her master’s in accounting from Texas A&M University and has been with the firm for five years.

* CPA Nicole Bradshaw has been named governmental audit manager at the accounting firm Pattillo, Brown & Hill LLP. She received her BBA in accounting from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and has been with the firm for five years.

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