Newsmakers, Jan. 8-14, 2015

Prudhomme Law Office of Las Vegas was recognized by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the Best Law Firms of 2015. A Best Law Office ranking requires a firm’s attorney be selected for listing in The Best Lawyers in America, which represents the top 4 percent of practicing attorneys in the U.S. Ed Prudhomme was selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in immigration law.

Austin Dean Shields, 13, of Henderson, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on Nov. 20, 2014. He is a member of Troop 565 with Adam Dowd as his scoutmaster and Phil Sanders as his assistant scoutmaster. Shields is the son of Lisa and Kevin Shields (and stepfather James Dupre) and the brother of Adam and Luke. Austin’s Eagle Scout project benefited the Las Vegas Rescue Mission by providing more than 500 hygiene kits to the homeless. He solicited more than 5,500 donated products for the hand-assembled kits. Shields is an eighth-grader at Mannion Middle School and plans to graduate from college and enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Western Apprenticeship Coordinators Association of Southern Nevada awarded three $500 scholarships to local apprentices during a scholarship luncheon Dec. 5. Honorees included Amalia Diaz-Lara, Noe Gaxiola and Santiago Ricoy, who was the sole winner of the scholarship last year. Gaxiola, 20, an apprentice with the Roofers and Waterproofers Local No. 162, is a third-generation member of the union. He also is pursuing a pre-engineering degree at the College of Southern Nevada. Diaz-Lara, 22, is one of two female apprentices in Local No. 162, and she will use the scholarship to reignite her college career in criminal justice. Ricoy is an apprentice at Glaziers Local No. 2001 and a student at the College of Southern Nevada.

The Solera Veterans and First Responders Club in Anthem elected new officers for the 2015 year at its general membership meeting Dec. 15. Ed Kranson was elected president, Howard Spanier vice president, Ann Rodgers secretary and Phyllis Schreiman treasurer.

Connor Dignan of Las Vegas is a member of the Denison University men’s swimming and diving team in Granville, Ohio. Denison closed out 2014 by winning the Miami University Invitational for the second year. Dignan is a graduate of Desert Vista High School.

Navy Petty Officer Legalman 1st Class Miranda Fuller of Las Vegas was selected as Sailor of the Quarter of 2015. Fuller has been in the Navy for 12 years.

Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing and the Clark County School District announced the winners of the inaugural Yes! Think Clean Contest. The contest encouraged students from kindergarten through 12th grade to submit ideas in the form of written essays, drawings and models on how to conserve water in their communities. The six winners are: Emily Ostfeld, Cashman Middle School, first place; Heather Macias-Padron, Cashman Middle School, first place; Maximilian Kegley-Oyola, Scott Elementary School, second place; Mark Jason Ragunton, Scott Elementary School, second place; Yesenia Fernandez, McDoniel Elementary School, third place; and Kenzo Roberts, Scott Elementary School, third place. Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing plans to donate an additional $100 to each of the winning students’ schools.

Air Force Reserve Airman Jada A. Glasco graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Glasco is the daughter of Keshia Rowland and granddaughter of Shirley Davis, Dianne and Richard Glasco and Veda R. Waked, all of Las Vegas. She is a 2014 graduate of Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

Army Pfc. Brina N. Breyfogle graduated from One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo. Breyfogle is the daughter of Gary and Vickie Breyfogle of Las Vegas. She is a 2009 graduate of Las Vegas High School and earned an associate degree in 2014 from ITT Technical Institute.

Army Pvt. Rojelio Rojas graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is a 2014 graduate of Rancho High School.

Air Force Airman Russell R. Lee graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Lee is the son of Russell Lee of Chicago and Vickie White of Las Vegas.