Education

- Diana Nelson McQuay, a stake missionary in the Seattle Washington Shoreline Stake, was presented the Washington Award for excellence in education by the state superintendent of public instruction and the governor. The award recognizes teachers for outstanding leadership, contributions and commitment to education. Sister McQuay, a sixth grade teacher at Lake Forest Park Elementary School, also received the Alpha Delta Kappa International Philanthropic Teaching Sorority's National Living Memorial Scholarship to visit Japanese schools in October 1995. During her visit she'll develop materials for a multi-cultural study of Japan.

Writing

- Cesar Guerra, a longtime translator for the Church, recently received a national literary prize in Uruguay. Brother Guerra, a patriarch in Montevideo, Uruguay, is a former bishop and high councilor. He was recognized as an author and poet in a national competition, sponsored jointly by the Uruguay Ministry of Culture and Education, Radio Carve and the daily newspaper, La Manana. One of the first missionaries called from Uruguay, Brother Guerra has translated for President Joseph F. Smith, President Harold B. Lee, President Spencer W. Kimball and other General Authorities. He was described in a newspaper article as a "man of exquisite sensibilities."

- Robert Burt won first place in Nevada and 14th in the nation for his essay in the Voice of Democracy contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He took first place at Carson High School and in the Northern Nevada Area before advancing to state competition, where he won a trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals. A priest in the Carson City 2nd Ward, Carson City Nevada Stake, Robert's essay was on the contest theme: "My Vision of America." At Carson High School, he is band drum major, a member of the speech and debate team and a member of the National Honor Society.

Honors

- Greg Burgoyne has been named Utah's Father of the Year for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in December 1987. Brother Burgoyne is a father of six and serves as first counselor in the bishopric of the Taylorsville 15th Ward, Taylorsville Utah North Stake.

Speech

- Harmony Fisher, 12, won the Iowa State Optimists Oratorical Speech Contest in May. Her prize was a $1,500 scholarship. Harmony, a Beehive in the Council Bluffs Ward, Papillion Nebraska Stake, competed at three preliminary levels before advancing to the state finals in Des Moines, Iowa. The assigned topic of her five-minute speech was "Listen to Me." The contest, sponsored by the Optimists Club, was open to boys and girls, ages 10-16.

Broadcasting

- Robert W. Layton, news director for radio station CHED in Edmonton, Alberta, has received the Sam Ross Award for editorials. The award is presented yearly by the Radio and Television News Directors Association of Canada. Brother Layton's winning editorial "One of Us Abstained" dealt with sex education in the public school system. He is a member of the Edmonton 8th Ward, Edmonton Alberta Riverbend Stake.

Service

- David Harkness, 22, was recently awarded the Royal Humane Society lifesaving award for preventing a drowning in the River Nith in Scotland. Brother Harkness of the Dumfries Ward, Edinburgh Scotland Stake, saw a patient from a local hospital jump into the river. He ran into the river and pulled the struggling patient out.

- Veronica Masino of the Fayette Ward, Rochester New York Palmyra Stake, recently received the Teenager of the Year award from the Finger Lakes Association of Life Underwriters for service in her community. Veronica was selected from 40 nominees in five New York counties and was presented a $1,000 savings bond. Nominated from Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls, N.Y., Veronica was honored for service which included visiting nursing homes where she sang and played the piano, working as a camp counselor and helping prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for the needy.

Performing arts

- Katie Kern, 10, recently won a national talent contest which drew 280 competitors to the Las Vegas, Nev., event. The high point in Katie's performance was yodeling. She is also a singer, dancer and ventriloquist. She is a member of the Cimarron Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Redrock Stake. She shares her talent with charitable organizations and at civic events.

Military

- Brad Gardner, a U.S. Air Force sergeant, recently finished in first place in Top Scope '95, a multi-region competition to test the mettle of air defense technicians. The technicians were given an academic test and simulated radar tests, including one covering wartime procedures. Brother Gardner of the Oneida Branch, Syracuse New York Stake, helped a team from Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y., finish second overall against teams from the U.S., Iceland and Canada.

Law

- Mason D. Harrell Jr., Young Men president in the Redlands California Stake, has been appointed chief judge of the San Bernardino Office of Hearings and Appeals of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He presides over 10 U.S. administrative law judges. His jurisdiction includes San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Los Angeles counties and part of Arizona. Brother Harrell is a graduate of BYU and is a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Athletics

- Steven Eldon Heywood celebrated his 17th birthday in May by winning the Arizona state championship in the 110-meter high hurdles. He is a junior at Mesa High School. His time of 14.55 seconds was one of the fastest in Arizona during the past 10 years. Steven is also an honor student, a certified SCUBA diver and an avid rock climber and rappeling enthusiast. He is a priest in the Sunny Mesa Ward, Mesa Arizona Kimball East Stake, and an Eagle Scout.

- Lance White, a senior at Utah State University, finished 4th in the nation in the pole vault at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships on June 2, after earning all-America honors in the event at the indoor national meet earlier this year. Brother White, a member of the Northwood Ward, Logan Utah Cache Stake, cleared 17 feet, 81/2 inches at the outdoor national meet in Knoxville, Tenn. He holds the Utah State record in the pole vault. A native of Arizona, he broke the state record there in the pole vault while in high school.

- Ellen Nelissen recently received All-Sun Belt Conference honors for the third consecutive year in tennis. A Primary teacher in the Edinburg Ward, McAllen Texas Stake, Sister Nelissen played No. 1 singles this year for University of Texas Pan American. She is the first athlete at the school to become a three-time all-conference selection. A native of Belgium, she compiled a 15-4 record this season and won a conference tournament match 6-0, 6-3 before her team was eliminated.

- Crystal Brown, 15, won first place in the Freshmen Ladies Singles Division at the National Roller Skating Championships in Lincoln, Neb., recently. Although she injured her ankle just prior to the competition, she still came out on top. A member of the Gaithersburg 1st Ward, Seneca Maryland Stake, Crystal has won the Southeastern Regional Roller Skating Championship for the past nine years. She attends Magruder High School.

- Ivan Bradley Page of the La Verne 1st Ward, La Verne California Stake, recently competed in an international soccer tournament in Haarlem, Holland. He was a member of the only U.S. team at the competition. Members of the team were selected from youth soccer clubs in several western states. Teams from Holland, Germany and England also competed. Brad plays for the Bonita High School soccer team and the La Verne Lazers Soccer Club. He also sings in the high school concert choir and participates in water polo and track and field.