Newsmakers, July 16-22, 2015

Joi Goynes, a 2011 Faith Lutheran High School graduate and North Las Vegas resident, graduated May 9 from Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, Calif., with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During her four years at Vanguard, Goynes participated in women’s track and field. She maintained a 3.6 GPA during her senior year, was crowned the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics champion in the 200 meters and captured the school record and earned a qualifying time for NAIA Outdoor Nationals.

Alec M. Vandenbroeck, 16, of Las Vegas, is a Kohl’s Cares Scholarship winner and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Vandenbroeck volunteered more than 2,000 hours to design his school and school library websites, support technology rollouts, solve technology issues and set up technology labs at Silvestri Junior High School. He is the son of Tammi Vandenbroeck of Las Vegas.

Henderson-area seniors recently donated more than 270 knitted and crocheted caps, blankets, scarves and quilts to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, a nonprofit support group for families of children with cancer. The items were knitted and crocheted by the Humana Charity Crafters, a group of mostly senior women that meets from 1 to 2 p.m. Fridays at the Humana Guidance Center, 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway. Another group meets from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at the Humana Guidance Center at 8885 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 140. The knitting groups are open to the public, and all knitting materials are provided by Humana.

Boy Scout William Paul Ruecker of Troop 678 recently received his Eagle Badge. The youth helped build a secluded area to be used as an outside prayer garden for the members of Canyon Ridge Christian Church. He is the son of Eric and Yvette Ruecker of North Las Vegas.

The Junior League of Las Vegas announced the recipients of its first scholarship offer. Graduating seniors Rediet Ayele of Southwest Career and Technical Academy and Daniela Jijin of Canyon Springs High School each received a Community Service College Scholarship on behalf of the nonprofit. Each scholarship provides $2,500 per year and is eligible for renewal for up to three additional years for a total of $10,000 per recipient to aid in covering higher education tuition and fees.

Amanda Harding of Basic High School received the 2015-16 CMP Youth Scholarship, presented by the Civilian Marksmanship Program. She will receive a one-year $1,000 scholarship from the program based on marksmanship participation, grade point average and merit.

Army Pvt. Terrell Washington graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Washington is the son of Darlene Washington of Las Vegas and is a 2014 graduate of Eldorado High School.

Air Force Airman Jose Pocholo P. Dela Cerna graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Dela Cerna is the son of Maria Perez of Las Vegas.

Jennifer Allen of Las Vegas graduated from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., May 16.

Corin Galati and Rachel Payne, both of Las Vegas, made the spring 2015 dean’s list at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass.

April May Aganon of Desert Oasis High School, Lindsie Rifley of Bishop Gorman High School and Carissa Buckley of Las Vegas High School graduated with honors from San Diego State University.

Army Pvt. Natalia R. Meyer graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is a 2013 graduate of Arbor View High School.

Air Force Airman Jason A. Robinson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Robinson is the son of Sylvia Diaz of Las Vegas.

Graduates of Oregon State University June 13 included: Raven D. Chavez, Kenyatta V. Harper, Megan L. Haverman, Cynthia A. Stokes and Jessica M. Taylor, all of Henderson; and Karl C. Benjamin, Stacey L. Carrillo, Fatima J. Casden, Erika B. Desiderato, Jennifer J. Farmer, Ryan M. George, Shelby E. Hockaday, Stacy A. Kreuziger, Charles E. Leddon, Cameron B. Mastin, Brooklyn D. Raffaele, Sarah J. Smiecinski, Frank B. Treadway III, Adelbert M. Villoso, Hongming Wong, and Sahar B. Zavareh, all of Las Vegas.

Molly Beaudin of Henderson made the 2015 spring dean’s list at Lasell College in Newton, Mass.

Graduates of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., included Kaitlin Mullen and Derek Dickson, both of Henderson; and Alexis Tafoya, Audrey Futryk, Keith McLain and Steven Kaleta, all of Las Vegas.

Carnegie Hall has chosen Corbin Krebs, a bassoonist from Las Vegas, to join 113 other youths from around the country in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

Letters About Literature, a reading and writing contest for students in grades 4-12, chose two Las Vegas students out of three students from the state. Students are asked to read a book, poem or speech and write to that author (living or dead) about how the book affected them. Area winners are Charlotte Thaler of The Adelson Educational Campus and Tazreean Ahmed of The Meadows School.

Alex Roan was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after successfully completing the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. He is a 2009 graduate of Spring Valley High School.

Ivan Sahagun of North Las Vegas graduated from Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., May 15.

Katie Lack of Las Vegas graduated from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Emma Johnson of Henderson and Jilliene Jaeger of Las Vegas graduated May 17 from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan.

Zeshan Khan of Las Vegas made the dean’s list at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Citadel class of 2017 Cadet Angelica McNerny of Las Vegas received The Special Forces Association Award of Excellence in Charleston, S.C.

Miranda Sullivan of Las Vegas graduated from Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., on May 9.

Renhao Lang and Brittany Legal, both of Las Vegas, made the spring semenster Chancellor’s List at Troy University in Troy, Ala.