Bruce E. Rende was named a fellow of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County and was designated as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" for 2008. He is a senior partner at Robb Leonard Mulvihill LLP who concentrates on these litigations: commercial, professional liability, extra-contractual insurance, and insurance coverage and insurance related.

Kimball was ranked No. 26 in top engineering/architecture firms in the 2008 Giants 300 Report produced by Building Design + Construction magazine. It also was ranked No. 41 in top K-12 firms, No. 43 in top governmental design and No. 86 in top institutional design.

The North Hills Toastmasters Club received the President's Distinguished Club Award from Toastmasters International for the fourth straight year and five of the past six years.

APN Starfirst LP received an excellent supplier award from PPG Industries for superior accomplishments in 2007. APN is owned by the management of American PowerNet and based in Wyomissing, Berks County.

For the second straight year, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital was named best hospital in Pennsylvania for Weight Loss Surgery and ranked No. 1 for those services by HealthGrades, a leading independent health-care ratings organization. West Penn also ranked in the top 5 percent in the nation for weight loss surgery, which includes gastric bypass and laparoscopic procedures. HealthGrades also gave West Penn a five-star rating for clinical excellence in weight loss surgery.

The Pittsburgh Jazz Society and BNY Mellon gave Gerald Homme the 2008 Pittsburgh Jazz Society / BNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship. Chosen by a panel of nationally recognized jazz musicians and educators on the basis of his scholarship application and accompanying audition tape, Mr. Homme received a $5,000 award from the Pittsburgh Jazz Society and BNY Mellon. The son of James and Clara Homme, of Crafton Heights, Mr. Homme will start at Duquesne University as a freshman this month. He plays both the clarinet and saxophone, and composes music.

For a second time, Mike Baroody, general manager of the Red Lobster on Robinson Center Drive, was given Darden Restaurants' top honor, the Diamond Club Award. The award, now in its 11th year, is presented annually to general managers throughout North America who demonstrate outstanding results.

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