Costa Mesa student and teacher selected for prestigious program
Arsh Mengi, a student at Costa Mesa High School, and his teacher, Laurie Halt, are among 16 student-teacher teams from across the U.S. selected to participate in the second annual Sacrifice for Freedom: World War II in the Pacific Student & Teacher Institute. The program, coordinated through National History Day, is sponsored by Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, the USS Missouri Memorial Association, and Pacific Historic Parks.
This institute brings student-teacher teams from Hawaiʻi and American Samoa together with teams from the U.S. mainland for the distinctive opportunity to study, consider, and reflect upon World War II in a way that few have done before. Over the next six months, students and teachers will read books and selected materials, engage in online discussions, and research a Silent Hero, a military service member who died in World War II and is buried or memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
In June, the teams will meet in Oʻahu where they will walk in the footsteps of history and learn firsthand about the impact of World War II in the Pacific. The experience will culminate with the completion and presentation of the teams’ Silent Hero eulogies and profiles, which will be featured on NHDSilentHeroes.org, as well as the websites of the sponsoring organizations.
Submitted by National History Day
Coastline College’s cybersecurity program receives major award
The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has awarded Coastline College’s cybersecurity program the Exemplary Program Award. Coastline College is one of two colleges out of the 115 California community colleges recognized for 2020.
Coastline’s cybersecurity program offers a traditional 60-unit associate of science degree, in addition to a number of certificates. The cybersecurity program is designated by the Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. There are only six community colleges in California that hold this special designation and of those, Coastline was the first community college to receive this prestigious designation. Coastline’s cybersecurity program trains students to develop a unique skill set in the information technology field with critical thinking and investigative techniques.
Among the various pathway initiatives, the program includes CyberTech Girls workshops and CyberPatriot competitions for middle school and high school students, an online associate of science in cybersecurity degree with hands-on technical experiences, a cybersecurity student club, skill-building cybersecurity competitions, and on-the-job training and industry certifications for apprentices in the CA Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program.
Submitted by Coastline College
Anaheim native serves aboard U.S. Navy warship
Boatswain’s Mate Seaman David Marquez from Anaheim is serving aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59). The Russell, part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
Garden Grove Unified School District names Bell Intermediate student spelling bee champ
Bell Intermediate School eighth-grader Brandon Tran once again earned the title of champion of the district’s 33rd annual spelling bee for seventh- and eighth-grade students.
Tran correctly spelled the deciding word, arachnid, becoming the top speller among more than 7,500 intermediate school students in GGUSD. English language arts teacher Elizabeth Lindgren was the coach for the four spelling bee contestants from Bell Intermediate School.
Tran competed for first place with Leslie Penaloza from Alamitos Intermediate School, who finished second. Both were followed by Derek Nguyen of Alamitos Intermediate School, third place, and Ethan Nguyen of Lake Intermediate School, fourth place.
The district champion and the nine runners-up will represent the district at the Orange County Spelling Competition, with the written segment scheduled for Feb. 24, followed by the deciding oral spelling round on Feb. 29.
Submitted by Abby Broyles/Garden Grove Unified School District
Olympica’s gymnasts open season strong
Olympica Gymnastics Academy’s optional gymnasts, as well as the Level 3 team, competed in their season opener at the Palm Springs Cup. It was a strong start for the team.
The Level 7 team took home many top awards. Kylie Phillips of Laguna Niguel took the silver on bars (9.475), the bronze on vault (9.200), the bronze on floor (9.300), and the silver in the All Around (37.025) in the Child B division. Also in this division, Laguna Beach resident Sawyer Zimmerman took home the gold on floor with a score of 9.375, Edie Whalen (San Juan Capistrano) earned the silver on beam (9.500), and Addison Malue (Mission Viejo) earned the silver on vault (9.250). In the Child A division, Audrey Jackson of Laguna Niguel took home gold on floor, scoring a 9.525. Dana Point resident Misha Parsons earned the gold on the beam, scoring an impressive 9.650, and the silver on vault with a 9.075 in the Junior A division. The Level 7 team also brought home the third-place team award.
Level 8 gymnast Holly Carter of Aliso Viejo took home the silver on floor (9.375), the bronze on vault (9.150), and the bronze in the All Around (36.350) in the Junior A division. Teammate Cameron Craycraft (Ladera Ranch) earned the gold on vault with her score of 9.400. In the Senior A division, Regan Johnson of San Clemente earned the bronze on floor (9.275) and on vault (8.700).
Allison Karner of Laguna Niguel earned a silver medal on bars, scoring a 9.300, and the bronze medal in the All Around (35.250) in the Level 9 Senior A division. Mission Viejo resident Zita Conot took the bronze on the beam (8.865). In the Level 9 Junior A division, Kaitlyn Driessen (Rancho Mission Viejo) took home two bronze medals for her vault (8.950) and her beam routine (8.800). Also in this division, San Clemente’s Julia Rojas earned the bronze medal on floor with a 9.100.
In the Level 3 compulsory division, Leah Veselko of Trabuco Canyon brought home four medals for her efforts at her first meet. She earned silver on vault (9.275) and bars (8.900), and bronze on floor (9.000) and in the All Around (35.675). The Level 3 team also earned a fourth-place team award.
Submitted by: Nicole Rusin
Tustin students take the stage in ‘Little Mermaid Jr.’
Tustin residents Reagan Mike and Alicia Barris performed in the Musical Theater Academy of Orange County production of “Little Mermaid Jr.” at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster.
Barris, 10, and Mike, 11, Tustin Unified fifth-graders, auditioned for the production last September and were cast in leading roles, as Ursula and Ariel. Under the direction of Holly Bisaha, they worked for five months to bring the production to life. They performed twice in front of 400 people each time.
Both girls are looking forward to their next adventure on stage, ‘Seussical the Musical Jr.”
Chew for Charity Guild raises $1,900
“Ladies who lunch” may bring a certain image to mind, but the 40 women who make up Waymakers Luncheon Guild “Chew for Charity” dispel any stereotypes as they come together to make a difference for individuals in Orange County who are experiencing conflict and crisis. The women recently raised $1,900 for the nonprofit organization they are affiliated with. Waymakers shelters children, supports crime victims, counsels youth and families, resolves conflicts and educates communities.
The women of “Chew for Charity” have been meeting since 2007 to share a meal and, more importantly, provide financial and volunteer support to the work of Waymakers.
For more than a decade, the guild has met monthly and has raised between $15,000 to $20,000 a year for Waymakers. In addition to regular lunches, guild members also help to sell tickets for Waymakers’ fundraising events and advocate on behalf of Waymakers throughout Orange County.
14 honored as 2020 GGUSD Athletes and Coaches of Character
The Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education recognized Athletes and Coaches of Character from each of the district’s seven comprehensive high schools at a recent Board of Education meeting. The coaches and student-athletes represent a wide variety of sports and help develop and enrich GGUSD athletic programs by modeling respect, teamwork, and a winning attitude.
The Athletes of Character are student scholars who excel in academics, serve as leaders in their sport and are role models in their schools. Congratulations to:
• Bolsa Grande: Matthew Le, basketball
• Garden Grove: Heavyn Agu, tennis
• La Quinta: Marianna Ramos, cross country and track
• Los Amigos: Brian Pacheco, football and basketball
• Pacifica: Abby Chavez, swim, track, and soccer
• Rancho Alamitos: Andres Marrufo Puentes, football
• Santiago: Bernardo Monroy, football
The Coaches of Character have helped develop CIF league champions and teach students important skills like determination and confidence. Congratulations to:
• Bolsa Grande: Enrique Gonzalez, boys soccer
• Garden Grove: Rebekah Girard, girls soccer
• La Quinta: Steven Navarro, frosh football and track
• Los Amigos: Chris Sandro, athletic director and boys soccer
• Pacifica: Mike Sutton, soccer
• Rancho Alamitos: Mark Patterson, football
• Santiago: Cheryl Garcia, girls tennis
Submitted by Abby Broyles, Garden Grove Unified School District
Irvine business wins International Balloon Month photo contest
The owner of an Orange County business has been named a winner in the International Balloon Month #LiftUpSomebody photo contest sponsored by The Balloon Council.
The contest asks balloon enthusiasts around the world to post their best photos on social media to show how they used balloons to “lift up” somebody in their local community as part of the #LiftUpSomebody campaign.
Marla Borokoff, owner of Irvine-based Balloonzilla, tied for first place in the “Act of Kindness Photo” category. Balloonzilla donated balloons to Pacifica Senior Living in Newport Mesa.
Assistance League of Fullerton celebrates 80 years of service
Assistance League of Fullerton, a chapter of National Assistance League, recently celebrated 80 years of service to families and children in need through programs such as Operation School Bell, Vision Screening and Operation New Start. Congressman Gil Cisneros, state Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, Mayor Pro Tem Jan Flory of Fullerton, and a representative of state Sen. LingLing Chang’s office gathered to offer commendations on the league’s broad array of philanthropic programs serving local communities.
The Assistance League of Fullerton is an all-volunteer, non-profit group that serves north Orange County communities. Combined with the headcount of the Assisteens auxiliary and ALPHA working professionals auxiliary, the chapter is 277 members strong.
Local nurses get major recognition
The Southern Section California School Nurse Organization announced awardees for the 2019-2020 school year.
Excellence in school nursing: JoAnne von Kostka, BSN, RN. She is a credentialed school nurse in Huntington Beach Unified School District. Kostka was nominated and awarded for her work with underserved families as well as for her advocacy for school nurses within the district. Kostka is also on the board of the Orange County School Nurses Organization and the California School Nurse Organization. She will go on to the state level as nominee for Excellence in School Nursing.
Excellence in school nurse administration: Erin Lawrence, M.S., RN. She is the lead nurse in Los Alamitos Unified School District. Lawrence was nominated and awarded for her work advocating with children with health needs. She has worked to maintain the attendance of diabetic students as well as created documentation to care for children with chronic health issues. She will move on to the state level as a nominee for Excellence in School Nurse Administration.
Community partner: Tim O’ Donoghue, principal of Hillview High School in Tustin. O’ Donoghue was nominated and awarded due to his advocacy and support of school nurses as well as his work to improve the health office conditions and to increase student safety and confidentiality. He will move on to state level as a nominee for community partner.
Submitted by Brianna Kent
Fountain Valley K-9 gets a special gift
A Fountain Valley Police Department K-9 is sporting some new protection thanks to the efforts of South Coast College community. Kimbo received a bulletproof and spikeproof K-9 Armor vest during a recent ceremony on campus. Officer Brian Casteel and K-9 Kimbo met with Orange County Police Canine Association former president and K-9 Armor board member, Anaheim Police Department officer Brett Klevos and K-9 Armor’s founder, Suzanne Saunders as well as others from Fountain Valley PD and those who helped raise the funds. Casteel and K-9 Kimbo showed off Kimbo’s skills used in the field.
South Coast College students, staff, faculty and alumni raised $1,700 for the vest. K-9 Armor is accepting donations to equip other dogs working with police officers.
California Elementary principal John Albert receives Fulbright Award
The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced that California Elementary School principal John Albert, Ed.D., has been offered a Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program grant.
Albert is one of 20 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad through the Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools in 2020-2021. He will join cohorts of K–12 school and district administrators for an intensive program (approximately 10 days in length) that visits Finland and Singapore to learn about best educational practices to enhance students’ learning and prepare them for careers and citizenship in a global economy.
Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic and professional achievement as well as demonstrated leadership potential. Under Albert’s leadership, California Elementary School has been named a California Gold Ribbon School, Title I Academic Achievement Award School, two-time C.S.B.A. Golden Bell winner, Top 10 State E.R.P. School, and a 2017-2019 & 2019-2022 Apple Distinguished School. California Elementary also offers an innovative Dual Spanish Immersion Program and an Inclusive Schooling Program where each student is provided a school-issued iPad that they have access to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a fully integrated curriculum.
Submitted by the Orange Unified School District
The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.