Education
Ellyn J. Francis of the Okotoks Ward, Calgary Alberta South Stake, earned the Alberta Provincial Excellence in Teaching Award for 1993. Of the 45,000 teachers in Alberta, 455 were nominated for the award. Sister Francis teaches elementary students in a rural school just outside Calgary, Alberta. In the Church, she serves as a ward and stake family history consultant. She also lectures and teaches courses on family history research.
Academics
Alysun Turner, 16 and a Laurel in the Harbor Hills Ward, Newport Beach California Stake, was selected to attend The National Young Leaders Conference in October. She was one of 350 students from across America invited to Washington, D.C., for the conference, sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. Participants are chosen based on demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit. More than 300 members of Congress are members of the council's Honorary Congressional Board of Advisers. Alysun is a junior at Corona Del Mar High School.
Nathan Summers, 14, is the youngest honor student in Ball State University's 75-year history. He is a teacher in the Muncie 1st Ward, Indianapolis Indiana North Stake. He was enrolled at the university in the computer science program after scoring 1,130 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test last spring. Because of his score, he was also admitted to the university's honors program. He is concurrently enrolled as a freshman at Muncie Central High School and attends early morning seminary.
La'Shay Black of the Fairfax Branch, Savannah Georgia Stake, counts three Presidential Academic Fitness awards among her achievements. She is studentbody president at Wade-Hampton (South Carolina) High School. La'Shay joined the Church a year ago and is the only LDS member in her high school.
David Dougall, 17, a three-time winner in the Northwest Science Expo, finished third this year in the national contest at Pueblo, Colo. He is a priest and Eagle Scout in the Raleigh Hills Ward, Beaverton Oregon Stake. In his third trip to the national event, he competed against 51 other participants from throughout the United States. His project included the building and analysis of electric circuitry and determining different voltages, amps and Ohms.
David Labbe of the Marion Branch, Florence South Carolina Stake, won the national computers competition in a 4-H event at Richmond, Va., in September. The competition included a written test, computer programming, and a demonstration. David is a senior at
Dillon High School.
Maren Paxman of the Arlington Ward, Boston Massachusetts Stake, has won one of 12 scholarships offered by the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. She and the other winners were honored at the association's convention at Miami, Fla., on Oct. 2. Maren is a student at Brigham Young University. The association promotes quality television and radio journalism through research, education and professional training for journalism students and news professionals.
Centenarians
Pearl McMullan Lee Thames turned 100 years old on Oct. 24. She is a member of the Hattiesburg 1st Ward, Hattiesburg Mississippi Stake. Sister Thames was born in Decatur, Miss. She joined the Church 60 years ago and lives in a home in Hattiesburg built from pine trees grown on her property. She has one son.
Eva Kunz Drake Dustin, who turned 100 years old on Oct. 30, stands at the head of six generations. She became a great-great-great-grandmother with the birth of MyKenna Kay Harter to Louis and Konnie Harter on May 20, 1993. Sister Dustin's parents were from Bern, Switzerland, where they joined the Church and eventually migrated to the Teton Valley in Idaho. She is a member of the Victor 1st Ward, Driggs Idaho Stake. Sister Dustin married Merritt Frank Drake in 1911. Following his death, she married Monroe Dustin in 1919. She has seven children, six of whom are living.
Professional
E. Dale Cluff, director of libraries at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, has been elected president of the Texas Library Association. With more than 5,600 members, it is the largest library association in the United States. Brother Cluff was president of the Utah Library Association in 1977-78. He is the mission president in the Lubbock Texas Stake.
Honors
Cassa Dee Ross, 11, was chosen as the 1993 Military Child of the Year at Upper Heyford Air Force Base in England. A member of the Banbury Ward, Northampton England Stake, she won the honor for her contributions to the military community and for her outstanding school record. She is active in Girl Scouts, a library volunteer, a member of the math club, and sings in her school choral group.
Athletics
Natalie Webb, 17, became a United States Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist by passing the senior free-skating test this year. The test consists of a step sequence, jumps and spins in a four-minute program. Natalie was honored by her figure skating club at its annual awards ceremony and was presented with a gold skate blade mounted on a plaque. She began skating when she was 8 years old. Natalie, a member of the Woodridge 1st Ward, Naperville Illinois Stake, is a senior at Downers Grove South High School and is an Illinois all-state clarinet player.
Clint and James Converse of the Leesville Ward, Alexandria Louisiana Stake, both won national and world championships in the United States Karate Alliance this year. Clint, 14, and James, 12, won world championships in team fighting in their divisions at a meet in New Orleans, La. They took first place in the alliance's national points competition by combining to win 24 first-place trophies, 19 seconds and 21 thirds.
Jared Stokes, 14, is the grand champion of the Radical Outdoor Challenge. Jared is a teacher in the Peachtree City Ward, Jonesboro Georgia Stake. The Radical Outdoor Challenge is a series of physically challenging competitions including wall climbs, BMX bike racing, an obstacle course, swimming and canoeing. More than 150 entrants, ages 13-15, tried out and 65 were selected to compete. Jared battled through the first round and semifinals, then came out on top in the finals. The finals will be televised on ESPN in mid-November. Jared said Boy Scout training helped him because many of the events were similar to those he participated in at the 1993 Scout Jamboree.
Pageants
Angela Ure, 17, is the reigning Idaho Junior Miss and will compete in the national event next summer in Mobile, Ala. She is a member of the Aberdeen 2nd Ward, American Falls Idaho Stake.
Tami Fox, 25, was crowned Ms. Florida in a pageant at Washington, D.C., in August. After winning the Florida crown, she moved on to the Ms. America competition and was among the five finalists. She was also runner-up in the Mrs. Florida Pageant held in Miami in August. Sister Fox, of the Naples Ward, Fort Myers Florida Stake, joined the Church 14 years ago. She and her husband, K.C., have a one-year-old son, Parker. She has been entering pageants since she was 12 and has won more than 50 national and state titles. Four years ago, she suffered a crushed pelvis and dislocated hips in an automobile accident. Although there were doubts that she would fully recover, she has since served a mission in Seattle, Wash., and won two pageants. She enjoys speaking to youth groups about building self-esteem.
Awards
Harold E. Greer of the Flagstaff 1st Ward and former president of the Flagstaff Arizona Stake, was recently presented the Northern Arizona University Alumni Association Distinguished Citizen Award. The award, given during homecoming ceremonies, is the highest honor given to an alumnus and recognizes outstanding contributions to country, state and community. Brother Greer, a retired school administrator, has served in many charitable, service and educational organizations. He is a former president of the Texas San Antonio Mission.
