Newsmakers, Aug. 21-27, 2014

Five Clark County students with Norwegian ancestry have been awarded $3,100 in scholarships by the Vegas Viking Lodge of the Sons of Norway. The winners are Sean Cortney, a UNLV sophomore; Amanda Fehr, a Shadow Ridge High School senior; Skylar Feldman of Henderson, a Coronado High School senior; Nathan Gifford, a Centennial High School senior; and Jessica Reed, a three-time winner and a sophomore at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Air Force Airman Jose D. Vazquez Rodriguez graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Vazquez Rodriguez is the son of Evangelina Rodriguez of North Las Vegas and is a 2012 graduate of Legacy High School.

Air Force Airman Javen K. Nihipali graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Nihipali is the son of Emory Nihipali Jr. and grandson of Emory Nihipali Sr., both of Las Vegas. He is a 2013 graduate of Sierra Vista High School.

Air Force Airman Jason T. Imhof graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Imhof is the son of Michelle Imhof of Las Vegas and is a 2011 graduate of Palo Verde High School.

During the June Department of Nevada American Legion Auxiliary Convention, it was announced that the American Legion Auxiliary Junior Unit No. 14 won the Department of Nevada’s Junior Unit of the Year Award for $10,000 worth of volunteer hours. The American Legion Auxiliary is a patriotic all-ages organization of women who are related to or are active-duty military or veterans. For more information, email Judy Cobb at alajuniorunit14@gmail.com.

Nevada Air Guard Senior Master Sgt. Torry Thompson received the 2014 Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award from the NAACP in Las Vegas.

Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, has been honored with the 2014 destination marketing Hall of Fame Award by Destination Marketing Association International.

Army Pvt. Connor O. Riley has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. Riley is the son of Jay Riley of Chesapeake, Va., and Judy Ridley of Henderson.

Crystal D Dyson of North Las Vegas graduated from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., on May 18.

Lauren Baldau of Las Vegas graduated from the University of Dallas in May.

Alexandra Bailey, daughter of John Bailey and Teri Thomas of Las Vegas, and a junior at The Meadows School, has been selected to participate in the Resident Honors Program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Bailey has been awarded a Trustee Scholarship from USC.

Air Force Airman Jared J. Simpson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Simpson is the son of Kimberly A. and Charles J. Simpson of Henderson. He is a 2013 graduate of Basic High School.

Air Force Reserve Airman Quinisha S. Kline graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Kline is the daughter of Angela F. Kline and granddaughter of Willie and Freddie M. Kline, all of Las Vegas. She is a 2012 graduate of Cimarron-Memorial High School.

Travis Beck of Las Vegas was one of 389 Mercyhurst University’s Scholar-Athletes in the 2013-14 school year. The school is in Erie, Pa.

Robert Drye has been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Drye is serving as a pilot with 9th Airlift Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Del. He has served in the military for two years. He is a 2008 graduate of Shadow Ridge High School.

Air Force Airman Armando M. Salazar graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Salazar is the son of Amber and Armando Salazar of Henderson and is a 2013 graduate of Foothill High School.

Air Force Airman Dalvin T. Hightower graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Hightower is the son of Jennifer and Robert Hightower of Las Vegas and is a 2012 graduate of Shadow Ridge High School.

Air Force Airman Anthony Contreras graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Contreras is the son of Ascencion and Kimberly J. Contreras of Las Vegas and is a 2011 graduate of Sunrise Mountain High School.

Air Force Airman Kaelen J. Chapman graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Chapman is the son of Kaysee Coplan and Mark Dunbar of Henderson and is a 2013 graduate of Foothill High School.

The following residents were among 745 students who made the 2014 spring Dean’s List at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sarah Forsythe, Jena Chavez and Sofia Cruz, all of Henderson; and Alexandra Andrews and Genni Becker of Las Vegas.