Professional
Mike Fairbourne returned from this year's International Weather Forecasters Festival in France with the first-place trophy from the event's competition. There were 98 participants from 46 countries in the weathercasting contest and they were judged on presentation, graphics, scientific content and educational information. Brother Fairbourne, chief meteorologist for CBS affiliate WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minn., had the highest overall score. Also during the festival, he made a presentation on the historical perspective of meteorology. Only four meteorologists from the United States were invited to the festival. Brother Fairbourne of the Plymouth 1st Ward is a stake clerk in the Minneapolis Minnesota Stake.- Dean A. Wright, director of food services at Utah State University, was voted president-elect of the National Association of College and University Food Services at the association's 36th annual conference in Kansas City, Mo., on July 15. He was also given the association's Lichtenfelt Award for outstanding service. Brother Wright, a high councilor in the Logan Utah Central Stake, has 20 years of experience in college dining services at Utah State University, College of Eastern Utah and BYU-Hawaii.
Dance
Kori New, 15, was one of 144 dancers selected from 42 countries to participate in the USA International Ballet Competition at Jackson, Miss., in June and July. Kori, a Mia Maid in the Hunter 5th Ward, Salt Lake Hunter East Stake, was the youngest entry in the Junior Division for ages 15-19. She danced four classic variations and two contemporary pieces. The contemporary dances were choreographed for her personally. She is currently a sophomore at Hunter High School after finishing at John F. Kennedy Junior High with a 4.0 grade point average.
Kellie Hansen, a senior at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah, won the title Miss Dance/Drill International at the Suzutan Cup World Championship held in Nagoya, Japan. Soloist and pep art teams from 18 countries qualified for the world competition through state and national events. Kellie, a member of the Willow Canyon 3rd Ward, Sandy Utah East Stake, won the Miss Drill Team Utah title in January and was first runner-up at the National meet at Long Beach, Calif., in May. The top three soloists advanced to world competition.
Academics
Mindy Rands of the Kimberly 1st Ward, Kimberly Idaho Stake, had an award-winning poster about mathematics displayed recently on a billboard outside Twin Falls, Idaho. Her poster, titled "Math Is Your Life," was the winning entry in a contest sponsored by the Southern Idaho Teachers of Mathematics. She won as a ninth grade honor student at Kimberly High School during the past school year.
Athletics
Shawna Cox, a senior at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, is a three-time NCAA All-American in track and field. She finished seventh in the 1500-meter run at the NCAA outdoor championships at Boise, Idaho, in June to become an All-American in that event. Previously, she became an all-American in the indoor 1500 and as a member of her school's distance relay team. A member of the Weber State University 1st Ward, Weber State University Stake, she has also been a member of the academic All-Big Sky Conference team each quarter of her college career. In August she was named collegiate track and field Woman of the Year by the Utah Network for Girls and Women in Sports.
Holly Eddins, 11, won a trip to the World Children's Baseball Fair in Miyazaki, Japan, through an essay contest sponsored by the Lakeland (Fla.) Police Athletic League. There were only 20 winners in the United States. The 10-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Japan began on July 24. While there, Holly played baseball and went sightseeing. She also saw some baseball legends at the fair, including former New York Yankee great Joe Dimaggio. Holly is a member of the Gibsonia Ward, Winter Haven Florida Stake.
Danny Fassler of the Winder 6th Ward, Salt Lake Winder Stake; Joshua and Jeremy Holmgren of the Valley View 10th Ward, Salt Lake Valley View Stake; and Brandon Flack of the Olympus 3rd Ward, Salt Lake Olympus Stake, finished second in the 1994 National 3-on-3 Triple Crown Soccer Tournament in Denver, Colo., in August. The team lost in overtime in the championship game of the Male Under-17 bracket.
Centennarians
Henrietta H. Shafter of the Capitol Hill 1st Ward, Salt Lake Stake, turned 101 years old on Aug. 26. She was born in Tranmere, Cheshire, England, to David and Louisa Hughes. Part of her family joined the Church in England and they immigrated to Utah in 1907. She married Edward Shafter in the Salt Lake Temple in 1914 and they were active in Church callings and temple work. They had five daughters and one son. Sister Shafter's husband died in 1977.
Irvin Fresh of the Riverview Ward, Emmett Idaho Stake, commemorated his 100th birthday Aug. 9. He was born at American Falls, Idaho, and joined the Church in 1957 in Emmett, Idaho. His first wife was Margaret Brown. He continues to live an active life, according to his high priest group leader, Arlie Stiles. Brother Fresh is still a home teacher, and he and his second wife, Marvilla, have been assigned to visit Lucille Averett, also 100 years old, for the past seven years and have not missed a month, Brother Stiles reported.
Pageants
Cecilia Anderson, 17, was crowned New Mexico State Junior Miss on July 30 during ceremonies at Las Lunas, N.M. She is a member of the Bluewater Ward, Grants New Mexico Stake. During the state competition with nine other entries, Cecilia sang "Hero," while also translating it into American Sign Language. She won the performing arts, interview, and poise and appearance sections to win the state title. She will compete next summer in the National Junior Miss event at Mobile, Ala.
Melissa Jensen, 12, recently won the Miss Pre-Teen Utah Scholarship and Recognition competition. A member of the Cottonwood Heights 4th Ward, Salt Lake Cottonwood Heights Stake, Melissa won a $1,000 educational bond, flowers and a finalist plaque. She also won the high-point trophy for "On-Stage Expressiveness," first runner-up in the speech competition and second runner-up in the talent competition. Melissa was one of 81 semi-finalists who participated in the statewide event.
Medical
Robert O. Hickman, president of the North Carolina Raleigh Mission, will be honored Sept. 10 for his innumerable contributions to the care and treatment of children with kidney failure and the chronically ill. He will receive the 1994 James W. Haviland Award for Outstanding Achievement in Nephrology. The Northwest Kidney Foundation announced that the award would be presented at its "Celebration of Excellence" in Seattle, Wash. Pres. Hickman is founder of pediatric nephrology in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland.
Military
Rodney M. Atack, a colonel in the United States Army and director of the Army Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, was recently awarded the John W. Macy Jr. Award for Outstanding Leadership of Army Civilians during 1993. The Department of the Army award acknowledges the demonstration of leadership excellence by an Army military or civilian supervisor of civilians. Three members of the Army Audiology and Speech Center nominated him for the award. A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., Brother Atack earned bachelor's and master's degrees from BYU and his doctorate from the University of Utah. He has 29 years of military service, the past seven at Walter Reed. He is second counselor in the presidency of the Silver Spring Maryland Stake.
Church
Twins Jason and Justin Welch of the Hyrum 5th Ward, Hyrum Utah North Stake, turned 16 and were ordained priests just in time to baptize their younger brother and sister, twins Rachael and Matthew in July. Jason baptized Rachael and Justin baptized Matthew. Approximately eight years earlier, Jason and Justin were confirmed the same day that Rachael and Matthew were blessed. Their parents are Chad and Glenda Welch.
