Service- George Nielsen, a counselor in the bishopric of the Fairfield 5th Ward, Fairfield California Stake, recently earned the Truly B. Knox Achievement Award for his contribution to child welfare efforts in California. An assistant district attorney for the city and county of San Francisco, Brother Nielsen is assigned to the family support enforcement division. He is also a member of the non-profit California Family Support Council that presents the Knox award, which is based on lifetime achievement. The award is an engraved silver ice bucket, usually containing a bottle of champagne. Brother Nielsen's bucket had a bottle of spring water in it.
Athletics
Becky Hunt of the Mesa 45th Ward, Mesa Arizona South Stake, recently set a tournament record when she pulled down 47 rebounds in a National Junior College Athletic Association regional basketball tournament. The sophomore at Scottsdale Community College also made the all-tournament team.
Alai Kalaniuvalu of the Corvallis University Ward, Corvallis Oregon Stake, was recently drafted in the third round of the National Football League draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Originally from Tonga, he was a standout at offensive guard on the Oregon State University football team. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound player was the 99th pick overall in the draft and the only offensive lineman taken by the Falcons. He came to Oregon State via Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College. He played in the Hula Bowl college all-star game in January.
Tom Bean and Marc DeLuca, priests in the Bothell 4th Ward, Bothell Washington Stake, were half of a four-man 4x400-meter relay team that took first place in the Washington State Track Meet recently in Tacoma, Wash. The relay team was never beaten during the track season and ran the state's fastest time of 3:17.97. Marc also took fifth place at state in the 400 meters. Marc also placed second in the state solo and ensemble music competition, playing the marimba.
Academics
Erika Dahl of the Volcano Cliffs Ward, Albuquerque New Mexico Stake, was named Outstanding Female High School Student of the Year from the 14 public and private high schools in the Albuquerque, N.M., area. She was awarded a scholarship to accompany the honor. At West Mesa High School she was a member of the National Honor Society and has gone to state in moot court competition each year. She has also lettered in cross country for two years.
Dawn McBride of the Tampa 2nd Ward, Tampa Florida Stake, won first place in the Poetry Division during a three-day competition of the Florida Association of Students of German recently. She presented a sensitive rendition of "Dei Loreli" by Heinrich Heine. She mastered German while a student at Land O'Lakes High School.
Drew McGuire of the Terryville Ward, Plainview New York Stake, was runnerup in his grade level in a science competition at Brookhaven National Laboratory. As a first grader at the Waverly Avenue Elementary School in Long Island, N.Y., Drew took first place in his school science fair to qualify for the regional competition along with more than 700 others. He also earned honorable mention overall for his project - "solar mittens."
Ginger Grant, counselor in the Primary presidency of the Challmette Ward, Slidell Louisiana Stake, was a 1994 recipient of a nomination to the Summer Scholar Program at the Graduate School of Harvard University. Sister Grant is a student at Xavier University, studying education. She has a 4.0 grade point average, and has received several academic scholarships.
Music
Adrienne Miller, 17, of the Overland Park First Ward, Olathe Kansas Stake, was named to the National High School Honor Orchestra as a violinist during the past school year. Two high school musicians from each state were invited to attend. Adrienne performed with the orchestra in Cincinnati recently in conjunction with the National Music Educators Association. She also was a member of the Kansas State High School Orchestra and was concertmaster and concerto soloist in the Shawnee Mission South High School orchestra. She is a member of the National Honor Society.
Gwen Walters was concert master for the All-State Nevada Music Educators Association Concert held in Reno earlier this year. She was also named first chair violinist for the Clark County Honor Orchestra which draws the top musicians from 15 area high schools. Gwen, a member of the Frenchman Hills Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Sunrise Stake, had a 3.95 grade point average at Eldorado High School last year and attended early-morning seminary.
Jennifer Marie Greco was selected to play the piccolo with the Virginia All-State Orchestra. As a senior at Culpeper County High School, she was selected through a series of auditions at the district, region, and state levels. She also spent time last summer at the Governor's School for the Performing Arts at the University of Richmond. She plays for the Woodberry Forest Community Orchestra and was a member of her high school concert, marching and jazz bands. She is a Laurel in the Culpeper Ward, Fredericksburg Virginia Stake.
Education
Donald D. Deshler president of the Olathe Kansas Stake, was the 1994 recipient of the highest honor given by the International Learning Disabilities Association. The ILDA award was given to Pres. Deshler in recognition and appreciation of outstanding leadership in the field of learning disabilities. He is director of the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas. He has served on the National Advisory Council for the Handicapped and was one of eight U.S. educators recently invited to Moscow, Russia, by the Ministry of Education to serve as an adviser for reforms for the handicapped.
Steve Holtom, a high councilor in the Idaho Falls Idaho Stake, is currently serving as president of the Idaho Association of Secondary School Principals. In the elected position, he represents the educational and professional interests of secondary school administrators at state, regional and national levels. Brother Holtom has worked in the Idaho Falls School District for 31 years and has been a secondary-school principal for 28 years, currently at Idaho Falls High School.
Professional
Lee Humrich, executive secretary of the Arvada Colorado Stake, has been installed as president of the National Users of Agena Systems at its annual convention in Nashville, Tenn. Agena Corporation sells ready-to-use systems automating the management and accounting of insurance agencies in the United States and Canada. Brother Humrich, who is also an ordinance worker in the Denver Colorado Temple, is past chairman of the West Chamber serving Jefferson County, and past president of the Association of Professional Insurance Agents.
Martin L. Andersen of the Northridge 3rd Ward, Orem Utah Northridge Stake, recently received several international awards for his films and video productions. "Soaring to Nu Heights," a parable about achieving one's true potential, won the first place CINE Golden Eagle Award at the CINE International Film and Video Festival in Washington, D.C. The same video received three TELLY awards from the Ad Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, and third place at the U.S. Industrial Film and Video Festival in Chicago, Ill. His "Fool's Bluff" video won a first place CINDY Award from the Association of Audio Visual Communicators and three TELLY awards.
Pageants
Lea Saville, a Laurel in the Topeka 1st Ward, Topeka Kansas Stake, will represent Kansas in the Miss National Teenager Pageant at Nashville, Tenn., in August. She won the Miss Kansas title at the state pageant in April. An accomplished clarinetist and pianist, Lea has won numerous honors for her musical talents, including the Young Artist Award given to the outstanding high school instrumental musician in Topeka. She graduated from high school in May with a 4.0 grade point average.
Alicia Marie Larsen of the Carrollton Ward, Silver Springs Maryland Stake, is Maryland's representative in America's Junior Miss Scholarship national finals at Mobile, Ala. A recent graduate from Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Alicia won awards for Creative and Performing Arts, and the Presence and Composure categories while winning the Maryland competition. She is a member of the National Honor Society and a Maryland Distinguished Scholar. She has performed in seven operas with the Washington Opera Company at the Kennedy Center. She is a volunteer helping with the visually handicapped.