CommunityJim Peters, a volunteer in Barberton, was elected president of Neighborhood Conservation Services, a nonprofit that rehabilitates housing to improve neighborhoods. Peters had been vice president and a member of the executive committee. The 2011 Akron Optimist Club Award went to Summit County sheriff’s Deputy David Fatheree.EducationDr. Eric Kodish, director of the Center for Ethics, Humanities and Spiritual Care at the Cleveland Clinic, was elected chairman of the Northeast Ohio Medical University (formerly the Northeast Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy) in Rootstown Township. He is a 1986 graduate of the college. Dr. Chander M. Kohli, a neurosurgeon in private practice in Youngstown, was elected vice chairman during a formal vote in September. Andrea Muto was named Alumna of the Year by the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State. A 1998 graduate of KSU, Muto is a senior legal adviser for a USAID project in Kosovo. Deva Walker of University Heights, a 2001 graduate of the library school, was named Friend of the Year. All the other recipients graduated in 2010. Derek Zoladz of Columbus received the August Alpers Award for maintaining good grades while contributing the most to the school. Tony Nguyen of Columbus received the Beta Phi Mu Student Achievement Award for scholarship, leadership and service. Elisabeth Ruiz-Flint of Solon received the Dan Maclachlan School Library Media Award for creativity and leadership serving the K-12 audience. Emily Lockhart of Akron won the H.F. Group Preservation Award for scholarship and interest in library preservation. Jessica Harshbarger of Grove City and Kimberly Castle-Alberts of Cuyahoga Falls received the Janice Smuda Children’s Librarianship Award; Elizabeth Kuilman of North Olmsted was presented the Jesse H. Shera Memorial Alumni Award for strong academics and future in scholarly research; and Jacquelyn McCloud of Kent and Darlene Kerr of Columbus received the Rose L. Vormelker Alumni Award for strong academics and promise for special library work. The Beacon Journal welcomes news about military, community and student achievement. Send information to staff writer Carol Biliczky at cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com or fax it to 330-996-3729.