Sandy Hook residents Jennifer Jones and M. Caitlin Sochacki were both recently named to the honor roll for the third quarter at the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall, in Milford.

Benjamin Brand, son of former Newtown residents David and Barbara Brand, who now reside in Essex, and grandson of Mrs A.F. Brand of Findlay, Ohio, was recently awarded a BFA degree in glass from the Rhode Island School of Design. Mr Brand graduated from Fairfield Preparatory School in Fairfield, CT, in 1996. He has served as a teaching assistant in the RISD glass department. His senior show, April 20, 2000, featured works in pen, glass, and sculpture. Mr Brand also continues to pursue musical interests, playing guitar, bass, and percussion, and having released a CD with East Coast band NSG.

Thomas John Wolferseder, son of Frank Wolferseder of Newtown and Lyn Beatty of Sandy Hook, has been accepted to the University of Pittsburgh-Titusville for the fall 2000 term. T.J. is currently a senior at Newtown High School, where he has been a member of the band and soccer team.

Kate Zimmerman of Sandy Hook is the recipient of the Thomas B. Sheridan Award, given by the department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The award is given to recognize the creativity in the improvement of human-machine integration or cooperation. Miss Zimmerman, who will graduate from MIT in June, received the award for developing a new application of the global positioning system (GPS) in automobiles.