Allen Lund Company in La Cañada announced the promotion of Carrie Petersen to assistant manager of Human Resources. In her new role, Petersen will take on more interaction with managers and individual employee related issues.

Petersen began her career with the Allen Lund Company as an HR generalist in 2010 with experience in several Human Resources professional networks and certification in Advanced Internet Recruiting Strategies.

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The following local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines: Haig Aintablian and Karen Crum of Glendale and Ruther Barber and Kimberly McCutchan of La Cañada were initiated at University of Southern California; Melissa Thomas of Montrose initiated at Arizona State University.

These local residents are among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10% of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

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Eleanor Cardell of La Cañada Flintridge recently graduated from Bard College at Simon’s Rock (Massachusetts) with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. Cardell attended La Cañada High School before leaving after 11th grade to enter college early.

Cardell was one of 124 students to graduate from the early college on Saturday, May 18. Fifty-two undergraduates received their B.A. degrees and 72 received their A.A. degrees.

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Elizabeth Charky was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Connecticut College at the 95th commencement ceremony on May 19.

Charky majored in film studies and dance.

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Christopher Kan of La Cañada graduated from Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine, with a major in anthropology and biology.

The college’s 208th commencement exercises were held Saturday, May 25 when Bachelor of Arts degrees were awarded to 452 students from 42 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 14 foreign countries and territories.

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The following local students graduated from the University of San Diego on May 26: Vivian Maria Rivera and Brian Phillip Delpit of La Crescenta. Rivera graduated cum laude and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. Delpit graduated cum laude and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Lauren Hovannessian and Kelly Anne Giles of La Cañada. Giles graduated cum laude and earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Hovannessian earned a bachelor’s degree in visual arts.

The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning committed to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and the creation of ethical leaders.

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Elizabeth Saxe from La Cañada graduated from Beloit College in Illinois on May 12 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was also on the dean’s list.

Beloit College is a residential, liberal arts college offering 40 majors to its 1,250 students.

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Nick Kelly of La Crescenta graduated from Pacific University in Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing.

Founded in 1849, Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., is one of the West’s first chartered institutions of higher education.

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Kirstie L. Shurie of La Cañada, a sophomore majoring in science studies and pre-physical therapy, was named a presidential scholar for the spring 2013 semester at Clarkson University.

Presidential scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade-point average and carry at least 14 credit hours.

Clarkson University is located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y. It is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world’s pressing issues.