Four students from Banning, Beaumont and Cherry Valley have earned places on the academic Deans' List at Azusa Pacific University, it was announced Tuesday.

They were honored for a fall semester 2010 academic standing of a 3.5 or better grade-point average, according to the university.

Azusa Pacific University officials identified the four local Deans' List students as:

- Lidia Miranda of Banning, a Biochemistry major.

- Kimberlee E. Ellington of Beaumont, a Cinematic Arts major.

- Megan G. Jones of Beaumont, a Psychology major.

- Brooke A. Gerken of Cherry Valley, a Global Studies major.

Miranda, 19, graduated from Banning High School in 2009. She is in her second year at Azusa Pacific University, and she is considered a second-semester junior in units because of AP credit and CLEP test credit.

Her Pre-Med major is Biochemistry with a Spanish minor. She works part-time at the Office of Ministry and Service on campus.

Miranda is also a Student Ministry Coordiator for the Azusa Food Bank Ministry, she told Patch, "where I do everything from recruiting student volunteers and lead them in volunteering at local food banks of Azusa."

She is a member of the Phi-Delta Epsilon Pre-Medical Fraternity and she is a Multi-Ethnic Leadership Scholar.

Azusa Pacific University is an evangelical, Christian university committed to "God First" and excellence in higher education.

With 53 undergraduate majors, 37 master's degrees, 21 credentials, 7 doctoral programs, and 5 certificates, the university offers imore than 9,200 students a "quality education on campus, online, and at seven regional centers throughout Southern California," university officials said in a statement.

More information about Azusa Pacific University is available at www.apu.edu.