Dance
Ryan and Tyler Mower, ages 14 and 11 respectively, recently returned from Nashville, Tenn., where they placed in the national Opryland Clogging Championships. Ryan won the second-place trophy in the 12-14 age group while Tyler took third in the 10-11 age group. While both boys have previously won awards in local and regional competitions, this was their first national recognition. They are members of the Cherry Hill 3rd Ward, Orem Utah Cherry Hill Stake.
Professional
David G. Garce of the Santa Clara Ward, Los Altos California Stake, is serving as president of the American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers. He and other Native American architects and engineers recently completed the design for the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of the American Indian. A 1980 graduate of Utah State University, Brother Garce owns a landscape architectural practice.
John R. Wright, bishop of the Clovis 7th Ward, Fresno California East Stake, recently received the Distinguished Leadership Award presented by the Central California chapter of the American Planning Association. Bishop Wright is the director of planning and development services for the city of Clovis.
Karl Wesson was one of the 1995 nominees for a Prime Time Emmy for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling in a Series." The nomination, his second in the category, was for his work in a two-part episode on the CBS series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." Brother Wesson of the Cascade 5th Ward, Orem Utah Stake, had to incorporate more than 600 styles to develop an authentic 1870 period look in the episode about Dr. Michaela Quinn leading a Colorado delegation to a conference in Washington, D.C.
Rodeo
Earl W. Bascom, an 89-year-old high priest in the Apple Valley 4th Ward, Victorville California Stake, has been recognized as the oldest rodeo clown and bull fighter known in the world. The distinction was made by organizers of the recent Rodeo Clown Reunion in Colorado Springs, Colo., who presented him with a commemorative belt buckle. Brother Bascom began his rodeo clowning in 1931. A professional rodeo cowboy as well, he began competition in 1916.
Music
Amy Jo Sawyer, music committee chairwoman in the O'Fallon Illinois Stake, has been elected president of the Accordion Teachers Guild International. She previously served as the organization's first vice president. Among other things, the guild holds an international competition and festival each July. Sister Sawyer has been a contestant in the accordion world championships. At last summer's festival, a composition for accordion orchestra that she composed was performed.
Haley Anderson, a 12-year-old violinist, recently visited Australia as the youngest member of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra. The 90-member group made the trip to represent the United States at the Sydney Youth Musicale. Haley, a member of the La Canada 1st Ward, La Crescenta California Stake, also plays the piano and the clarinet.
Art
Daniel H. Murri, 18, won 2nd place in the 1995 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. He represented Utah in competition that included winners from 49 other states. He will be honored during ceremonies hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in November in Washington, D.C. Daniel is a member of the Willow Canyon 1st Ward, Sandy Utah East Stake.
Charles Day, 9, is one of 75 winners in an international art contest that drew 2,000 entries from countries around the world. The contest was sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. The contest was titled "Picture a Perfect World: Drawing on the Past to Create Our Future" and was open to elementary-age students in three age groups. Charles is a member of the Cookeville Ward, McMinnville Tennessee Stake.
Hobbies
Tommy Engar, 13, recently won several awards at a national contest for his model building. He won first place in the Junior Automotive category for model buildings age 18 and under and second place in the Junior Aircraft Small-Scale Jet category in the competition at Albuquerque, N.M. The contest was conducted by the International Plastic Modelers Society/USA. Tommy, a member of the Cottonwood 4th Ward, Salt Lake Big Cottonwood Stake, had previously won several first-place awards in model contests held in Utah.
Service
David L. Christensen, president of the Fillmore Utah Stake, was presented the 1995 Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Award by the Utah Division of Family Services because of his continuing support to victims of domestic violence. Pres. Christensen has organized training for local ecclesiastical leaders on effective interventions for families experiencing domestic violence. He offers food, clothing and bedding to domestic violence victims in a local crisis shelter
Education
Jim Randall, first counselor in the Lincoln Nebraska Stake presidency, was recently presented with a 1995 Agriculture Communicators in Education Award of Excellence. The national award was given for his work in distance education, courses broadcast to be viewed on television at various locations. He produces one of the longest-running national telecourses, Agricultural Marketing and Entrepreneurship. In 1988, he produced the first Nebraska Cooperative Extension video conference via satellite. Brother Randall is the extension communication specialist for the University of Nebraska.
Jay D. Schvaneveldt, a professor in the Department of Family and Human Development at Utah State University, has been awarded a Fulbright grant to lecture and conduct research in Bahrain. The former bishop of the the Logan 1st Ward, Logan Utah Stake, is spending the current academic year with his family in the Persian Gulf nation. The Fulbright program, established in 1946 under congressional legislation, is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and of other countries.
Athletics
Jurrian Croese, 10, recently won the junior Dutch championship in gymnastics. A member of the Rotterdam 2nd Ward, Rotterdam Netherlands Stake, Jurrian went through four-hour-a-day practice sessions on his way to the national title. He acknowledged the blessings of his Heavenly Father and the support of his parents for his success.
Steven Wolfe, 46, won four gold medals wrestling at this past summer's AAU Grand National Tournament in Tulsa, Okla. Wrestling at 198 pounds in the Masters Division, he won both Greco-Roman divisions and the freestyle division for ages 45-49. He also took the medals for Masters All-Around for all age groups beginning at age 30. He is a member of the Homer Ward, Soldotna Alaska Stake.
Adam Larson of the Page 1st Ward, Page Arizona Stake, recently played in the Arizona Class 4A high school all-star basketball game at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Ariz. Adam was chosen to play in the game after playing for Page High School. He was a first team all-stater and was named Grand Canyon Region "Player of the Year."
Crystal Morwood, 11, and Brian Scott, 9, won gold medals in their age divisions at the National Trampoline and Tumbling Championships held in Denver, Colo., recently. Crystal of the St. George Utah West Stake, won the gold medal in double-mini trampoline. She also placed 7th in power tumbling. Brian of the Twin Falls 7th Ward, Twin Falls Idaho Stake, won the gold medal on the trampoline and was fourth in power tumbling and seventh on the double-mini trampoline.
