Talented youth

HONG KONG

Howard "Rusty" Berg II, while a member of the Victoria Ward in the Hong Kong Island Stake, received a variety of awards recently for his talents in music and debate. He won the Ugo Conta International Music Society contest for playing a difficult clarinet piece, receiving an all-expenses paid trip to Italy for two weeks. He then placed first in the Hong Kong Joint Schools Debate Society's duologue contest. He later received the John Philip Sousa Band Award, given to a high school student in recognition of outstanding achievement and interest in instrumental music. He is attending BYU this fall.

Wins steeplechase

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Matthew Lee Harmer of the Garden Heights South Ward, Salt Lake Wilford Stake, recently won first place in the steeplechase event of the National Junior Championships in Blaine, Minn., sponsored by The Athletic Congress. As a member of the national team, he participated in the Pan American games. He is a member of last year's University of Utah track team and is now serving in the Hong Kong Mission.

A top athlete

KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Brady Ibbetson, a member of the Kelowna 1st Ward, Vernon British Columbia Stake, was honored for his successful athletic career in high school. As a volleyball and basketball player, he received all-star selection in every tournament he attended, including the provincial championships. He was also selected to play in the British Columbia High School All-Star Game.

Receives CPA award

TAYLOR, ARIZ.

The Arizona Society of CPAs has awarded the 1991 ASCPA Public Service Award to Norris Baldwin, a counselor in the Taylor Arizona Stake. Baldwin serves as chairman of the Navopache Hospital in Show Low, Ariz., and as a board member of the Silver Creek Performing Arts Association. He was mayor of Taylor and later served on the town council. He currently serves as a district commissioner for the Boy Scouts and on the bond election committee for the Snowflake School District.

Woman of the year

SPANISH FORK, UTAH

Sarah Flynn, 19, has been named Woman of the Year by the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Utah. She was selected from nominees across the state for promoting patriotism in the community. While serving as Miss Spanish Fork in the Miss Utah Pageant she put together a year-long community service project to promote patriotism in the public schools. She worked with each of the seven principals from Nebo School District asking for renewed emphasis on teaching early American history and for holding opening exercises where students pledge allegiance to the flag and sing the national anthem. Sarah is a member of the Spanish Fork 17th Ward, Spanish Fork Utah South Stake.

Represents state

EMPORIA, KAN.

Grettle O. Payne of the Emporia Ward, Topeka Kansas Stake, represented Kansas at the White House Conference on Library and Information Services as a general public delegate. Delegates from all 50 states gathered at the conference to develop public policy proposals for improving the nation's library and information resources. All recommendations passed by the conference will be presented to President Bush in November and to members of Congress.

Participates on team

AMES, IOWA

Nicholas Schafer recently participated in the nationwide academic "Knowledge Master Open," where his middle school team finished first in Iowa and second in the nation, but first in the nation for schools of similar size. More than 1,500 middle schools and junior high schools participated in the national competition. Selection of team members is based on academic performance. Nicholas, a teacher in the Ames 1st Ward, Des Moines Iowa Stake, has a 3.82 grade point average and is on the honor roll at his school.

Given honor medal

BILOXI, MISS.

James Hail, 14, a member of the Biloxi Ward, Gulfport Mississippi Stake, was presented the Boy Scout Honor Medal for heroic acts, after saving the life of an 8-year-old girl, Emily Cook, and directing the rescue of others. The girl, her parents and her three sisters were swimming in the Gulf of Mexico with James and his father. As several members of the group entered deeper waters, the current became too strong for them. James directed one of the sisters, 12-year-old Catherine, to take a raft out to the adults who were struggling while he swam to save Emily.

Win history contest

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Two seminary and institute students and one institute teacher were the winners in the Church Seminary/Institute History Contest, sponsored by the National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers. The contest encouraged seminary and institute students and instructors to research and write about

their ancestors and then send it in for judging. Sharlesa Crismon, a seminary student from Mesa, Ariz., won for her video; Tristan Larkins, an institute student from Kaysville, Utah, won for her book, and John A. Peterson, an instructor from Kaysville, Utah, won for his book. Entries sent to the

contest ranged from video tapes, to cassettes to 600-page books. The materials were judged by officials from the Church Educational System and BYU. All entries were placed in the Sons of Utah Pioneers Library where they will add to the organization's research information.

101st birthday

PRICE, UTAH

Parley Huffman Rhead celebrated his 101st birthday Sept. 8. A member of the Price 9th Ward, Price Utah Stake, Rhead was born in 1890 as the ninth child of Edward Henry and Susan Rhead. He served a mission to the Samoan Islands for three years and nine months beginning in 1911. He married Parthenia Horsley in the Salt Lake Temple on Jan. 8, 1920. Rhead is the father of two children, grandfather of four, and great-grandfather of 13. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 35 years, retiring as assistant postmaster in Price, Utah.

Optometrist of year

BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.

John Hawley, a high priest in the Campus Park Ward, Bakersfield California South Stake, was recognized as the "Young Optometrist of the Year" for California. The award is given in recognition of professional involvement, community service and practice standards. He is presently serving as a seminary teacher and as a high councilor.

Serves on board

FALLING WATERS, W.VA.

Larry D. Kump, a member of the Martinsburg Ward, Winchester Virginia Stake, was recently nominated to serve on the board of directors of the Maryland Classified Association. He was also nominated to the board of directors to Common Cause of West Virginia. He is currently employed as a case manager specialist for the Maryland Division of Corrections at the Roxbury Correctional Institution.

National president

BOTHELL, WASH.

David W. Thompson, high councilor in the Bothell Washington Stake, was recently appointed national president of the International Television Association. The ITVA, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the professional video communicator in non-broadcast settings, has more than 9,000 members in the United States and an additional 3,000 members in 14 countries around the world. Thompson has received more than 50 awards for his productions in a variety of local, national and international video communications competitions.

New commissioner

AUBURN, WASH.

Lanie McMullin, theater director and arts administrator for the city of Auburn, has been appointed a King County art commissioner, an appointment for three years in Washington's largest county. Sister McMullin joins the arts advocacy and financial support group as a conservative voice. She is a Sunday School teacher in the Auburn 3rd Ward, Auburn Washington Stake.