Newsmakers, Feb. 12-18, 2015

Brianna Kesee, a freshman at Palo Verde High School, was accepted into the Stanford Law School Summer Program. The program is offered to high school students who aspire to become lawyers and who have demonstrated academic excellence. Kesee is the daughter of Robert and Charlene Kesee of Las Vegas.

Army Pvt. D’Aron C. Martin graduated from basic training and Combat Engineering Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. Martin is a graduate of Odyssey Charter High School and is the son of Daron P. and Darla L. Martin of Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s Board of Directors elected board officers during the January meeting. The officers will serve a two-year term. Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly was named chairman of the board, making him the board’s 20th chair to serve since 1955. Weekly is the first black to serve as the authority’s board chairman. Chuck Bowling, president and chief operating officer of Mandalay Bay, was selected as vice chair. Bill Noonan, senior vice president of administration for Boyd Gaming Corp., serves as secretary. Tom Jenkin, global president for Caesars Entertainment, remains treasurer.

Bridge players from all over the nation recently traveled to Providence, R.I., to compete in the North American Bridge Championships, and Bobby Levin of Henderson took home the title of Player of the Year. At 23, Levin became the youngest player to win the Bermuda Bowl world team championship in 1981 and still holds that record. The American Contract Bridge League’s Player of the Year Award goes to the player who wins the most platinum master points, which can be earned only in major national championships. Levin won the title with 819.11 points.

The Marine Military Academy named junior Patrick Gallagher of Las Vegas the Cadet of the Month for Fox Company for December. After graduating from the academy, Gallagher plans to attend Texas A&M University and become an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Gallagher, a first-year cadet, is the son of Rebecca Gallagher.

Scientific Games Corp. has announced that general counsel Katie Lever will serve as the chairwoman for the American Heart Association’s 2015 Go Red For Women Luncheon on Feb. 27. The Go Red For Women Luncheon brings together the Southern Nevada community to raise awareness, share heart disease survivor stories and combat the disease that affects an estimated 43 million women in the United States.

Brian Pauling was named president and CEO of 100 Black Men of America Inc. in January. He is the immediate past president of the 100 Black Men of Las Vegas Chapter.

Aaron Lockhart, a student at West Career and Technical Academy, has been selected for the 2015 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, presented by WorldStrides. He is set to perform on the viola at Carnegie Hall in February with the Honors Orchestra. Participation in one of the three Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers from across North America and select schools internationally.

City of North Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Anita Wood was sworn in as the 2015 president of the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities by North Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Kalani Hoo at the League’s Board of Directors meeting Jan. 22 at North Las Vegas City Hall.

Gregory A. Adzima of Las Vegas made the fall 2014 dean’s list at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa.

Eleanor Marrs of Henderson made the fall 2014 dean’s list at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.