Athletics
John Black of the Wichita Falls 2nd Ward, Lawton Oklahoma Stake, recently won the Junior Olympic USA Boys Gymnastics Texas State Championship in the 14-15 age division of level 4. He won the gold medal on the high bar, floor exercise and pommel horse as well as the all-around. Because of his score at the state meet, he also competed at the six-state Region III Championships and took fifth place in the all-around in his age group. John has been involved in competitive gymnastics for four years.
Dea Ann Joslin of the Petaluma 2nd Ward, San Rafael California Stake, swam to a United States record and won three championships at the World Masters Championships in Montreal in July. The mother of four set a record in winning the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2 minutes, 52.40 seconds, just half a second off the world record. She also won the 100 and 50-meter races in the breaststroke and was fifth in the 200 and 400-meter freestyle events. There were 3,500 swimmers from 45 countries at the championships.
Joshua Rohatinsky, 12, became a national champion in the 3,000-meter run at the USA Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships at Gainesville, Fla., July 30. His time of 9 minutes, 50 seconds in the Midget Boys division (11-12 year olds) was the second best time ever run in the event. Joshua, a member of the Provo 4th Ward, Provo Utah North Stake, has been running competitively for two years.
Bryan R. Medaris, a priest in the Ralston-Lavista Ward, Papillion Nebraska Stake, was informed at the end of the past school year that he had been included on the Nebraska All-State and All-Metro Class A academic teams for basketball. He was a starter on the Millard South High School varsity team. He maintained a 4.0 grade point average through high school, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was a Boys State representative.
Tony Mounce and Ron Wright of the Kennewick Washington Stake, were selected in the eighth round of the major league baseball draft in June after leading Kamiakin High School to the Washington AAA state championship. Tony was selected by the Houston Astros and Ron by the Atlanta Braves. They graduated from high school and seminary in June. Tony, a pitcher, went 11-0 for the season and Ron finished the year with the highest batting average in the league. Junior Darin Moody of the same stake also played on Kamiakin's championship team.
Academics
Jonathan Craig Summers of the Champions Ward, Cypress Texas Stake, recently won first place for the state of Texas in the Retail Marketing, Supervisory Level Competition, sponsored by Distributive Education Clubs of America. To participate in the state competition, Jonathan won district and regional competitions. As the state winner, he represented Texas at the DECA national competition. Jonathan recently graduated from Klein High School and works for Continental Air Lines.
Bao Her of the Hmong Branch, Stockton California Stake, won second place in the Stockton Unified School District Essay Contest at the 8th-grade level during the past school year. The topic was, "Advice to President Clinton, The Second Year." Bao was born in Thailand and focused her essay on the need for jobs and education among her people. She included the struggles faced by her mother and other family members trying to become productive and helpful citizens in this country.
Matthew Thrift, a priest in the Jonesboro Ward, Jonesboro Georgia Stake, recently participated in an educational trip to China and South Korea with the Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation. The foundation's purpose is to teach youth the free enterprise system of the United States while at the same time encouraging leadership skills.
Pageants
Anjelie Eldredge, 16, was crowned Miss Washington Teen 1994 in a contest held in Seattle, Wash., in May of this year. As the Washington representative, she traveled to Biloxi, Miss., on Aug. 1 for two weeks to compete in the Miss Teen USA Pageant. Anjelie is a member of the Hazel Dell Ward, Vancouver Washington West Stake.
Flying
Gary F. Kemp, a counselor in the bishopric of the Willows Ward, Chico California Stake, recently completed a 1,000-kilometer soaring flight from Parowan, Utah. He is one of less than 60 people in the United States and 250 around the world who have accomplished the feat. Brother Kemp used a standard class Pegasus glider for the flight. He has set 19 Utah state soaring records from Parowan during the past four years.
Music
Sherri Underwood of the Seven Hills Ward, Arapahoe Colorado Stake, recently won the regional auditions for the open division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing held in Colorado Springs, Colo. The annual competition is open to participants from Colorado and Wyoming. Sister Underwood was awarded the most points among five finalists in her division judged on vocal quality, musicianship, technical performance and stage presence. A lyric Coloratura soprano, Sister Underwood is a charter member of the Colorado Mormon Chorale.
Military
Roger M. Tabion of the Centerville Ward, Fremont California Stake, has been named Sailor of the Year for the Naval Supply Center in Oakland, Calif. The Navy Machinery Repairman First Class also had his own day as the mayors of Alameda and Oakland, Calif., recently declared "Roger M. Tabion Day." In presenting the award, Capt. J.R. Bailey cited Brother Tabion for his consistent display of "exceptional competence, sound judgment, and depth of professional knowledge in the execution of his duties." In addition to his career, Brother Tabion spends hours volunteering to a number of community concerns. His service includes work at a homeless shelter and cleaning up and repairing senior citizens homes.
Gerd Schroeder of the Fairbanks 2nd Ward, Fairbanks Alaska Stake, was honored as Soldier of the Year for Ft. Wainwright Army Base located adjacent to Fairbanks. He received the award from General John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the base's annual banquet this year. Private First Class Schroeder is a scout with Headquarters & Headquarters Company, First Battalion, 17th Infantry. He has been in the Army just over a year. After receiving the award, Brother Schroeder was nominated for Officers Candidate School.
Professional
Douglas Tedford of the Vergel Ward, Mexico City Mexico Vergel Stake, has been appointed developmental editor (English Language Teaching) for Mexico and Central America for McGraw-Hill Interamericana de Mexico, based in Mexico City. He will train teachers and consultants and develop course materials targeted to English language learners in kindergarten through 12th grade levels in his areas.
Brian J. Stucki of the Benson Ward, St. David Arizona Stake, was installed as vice president of the new Arizona-Nevada-New Mexico Division of Professional Secretaries International at a meeting in June in Phoenix. He works as a clerk for Church Physical Facilities in the Tucson Arizona East Physical Maintenance Group.
Service
Thomas H. Micklas, a high councilor in the Cypress Texas Stake, recently received the Meritorious Public Service Award from the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. The award recognizes his voluntary service as chairman of a civilian advisory committee that joined with various organizations to revise the regulations for transporting liquid and gaseous hazardous materials in tank barges. In the words of the commandant, "Mr. Micklas' voluntary effort has brought him the high regard of the entire maritime community. His leadership, dedication, and hard work in promoting marine safety are heartily commended." Brother Micklas is general manager of engineering for Hollywood Marine Inc.