Law Enforcement
Lloyd Prescott, a lieutenant in the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department, has been named the 1994 Police Officer of the Year by Parade magazine and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The award is one of 11 given by Parade and the IACP each year to honor bravery among police officers. Brother Prescott of the Granger 23rd Ward, Salt Lake Granger Stake, was credited with ending a hostage crisis at the Salt Lake City Library last March. The hostages were not harmed. Brother Prescott received the award on Oct. 18 in New Mexico.Athletics
Adam, 13, and John Crew, 11, brothers in the Silverdale 2nd Ward, Silverdale Washington Stake, won medals with their teams in the National Hardball Roller Hockey Tournament at Salem, Ore., this summer. Adam's Hurricane Freshman A team of Bremerton, Wash., won the gold medal in its division. John's Hurricane Midget A team won the silver.
Crafts
Julene Watson won an international competition and a $10,000 cash prize for a crocheted interpretation of Notre Dame Cathedral's stained glass North Rose Window. Sister Watson of the Santa Barbara 3rd Ward, Santa Barbara California Stake, used a photograph from an old Relief Society lesson manual as her model for her entry in the Annie's Attic Crocheted Quilt and Afghan Design Contest. There were several thousand entries from the United States and Canada. Sister Watson was taught to crochet when she was 9 years old by her grandmother. Sister Watson received her prize at a reception and banquet in Big Sandy, Texas, recently.
Music
Thomas Durham of the Hidden Valley 2nd Ward, Sandy Utah Hidden Valley Stake, recently received his fifth award in six years from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). The award recognizes art music, concert music played in substantial places, according to Brother Durham. The awards are granted by an independent panel and are based on the "unique prestige value" of original compositions and performances. His "American Hymn" written for brass, percussion and chorus, was recently performed by the Southwest Florida Symphony and Chorus in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir also performed the piece while on its North American tour in 1992. The choir presented it in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City; the Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio; the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minn.; Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa; the Prarie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, Ill.; and the DeJong Concert Hall at BYU. The Tabernacle Choir also performed another one of Durham's pieces, "Anthem."
John W. Ellars, bishop of the Hesperia 4th Ward, Hesperia California Stake, received the Songwriter of the Year award in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 17. It was presented by country music's independent record industry. Bishop Ellars earned the award for various songs he wrote that were released during 1993 and 1994. They were performed by several country artists in the United States and Europe.
Professional
Mark W. Hansen, an attorney and bishop of the El Cajon 2nd Ward, El Cajon California Stake, was recently appointed chairman of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of California. He was elected by his peers on the Litigation Section's executive committee, followed by a formal appointment by the State Bar Board of Governors. The Litigation Section is a volunteer organization with nearly 12,000 members. Among its activities, the section publishes a journal and newsletter, provides dozens of educational seminars throughout the state and sponsors working committees that study and promote alternative dispute resolution. Bishop Hansen graduated from BYU Law School in 1982.
Walter Peterson has been named Family Physician of the Year by the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Peterson has been practicing in Burley, Idaho, for 30 years and for 28 years has been on the staff at Cassia Memorial Hospital. He has been president of the academy and president of the South Central Medical Society. Members of the academy nominate candidates for Family Physician of the Year, and then a committee makes the selection from the nominations. The criteria for selection include providing the community with compassionate, comprehensive and caring medical service on a continuing basis, involvement in community affairs and activities that enhance the quality of life and being a credible role model as a healer and member of the community. The Idaho Academy has 360 members including physicians, residents and students.
Paul Sandland, a high councilor in the Eugene Oregon Stake, was chosen to receive the 1994 SEMI Award for North America, recognizing significant contributions to the semiconductor industry. He was chosen by the selection committee because of his respected work in the semiconductor equipment area, specifically for leadership in development of an automated wafer inspection system. Brother Sandland is vice president at KLA Instruments in Santa Clara, Calif.
Pageants
Margo Watson of the Holladay 11th Ward, Salt Lake Holladay Stake, won the Mrs. International USA Contest recently in Tyler, Texas. She was selected from 10 finalists. There were originally contestants from all 50 states. The pageant focuses on contestants' communication skills, commitment to marriage, ability to relate to the public, and personal appearance, according to pageant officials. Sister Watson and her husband, Dave Watson, have four children.
Cecilia Anderson of the Bluewater Ward, Grants New Mexico Stake, recently won the New Mexico State Junior Miss Title and will represent the state in the National Junior Miss competition next summer. She is a senior at Grants High School. In the state pageant, she won the performing arts, interview, and poise and appearance sections. In the performing arts section she sang "Hero" while translating it into American Sign Language.
Military
Master Sgt. Steven C. Springer was class commander of a graduating class of 146 Marines at Marine Security Guard School in Quantico, Va. The graduates were trained specifically to serve at United States embassies. Brother Springer is currently stationed at the U.S. embassy in London. He is a member of the North London Ward, London England Stake.
Art
Jim Wilcox, first counselor in the Driggs Idaho Stake presidency, took top honors and a $50,000 prize in the Eighth Annual Arts for the Parks competition. His oil painting of a mountain beaver pond titled "Home of the Beaver" was judged the best out of 100 finalists in the contest initiated by the National Park Academy of the Arts in cooperation with the National Park Foundation. Nearly 2,000 paintings of scenes in national parks and historical sites were entered. Brother Wilcox has had paintings in the top 100 every year since the Arts for the Parks contest began, but won for the first time this year.
