Newsmakers, May 14-20, 2015

Aaron Chisolm, a junior at Palo Verde High School, has received an invitation from Down Under Sports to participate in a conference on Australia’s Gold Coast. He is the only football player from Nevada chosen to go. Sponsors support the cost of the trip, and those sponsoring Chisolm will be entered to win tickets for two to Australia. Entry deadline is June 1. All donations go directly to Down Under Sports at 435-753-4732 or downundersports.com/make-payment. He is the son of Linda and David Chisolm of Las Vegas.

The Newberry family recently celebrated a third generation of Eagle Scouts when Cody Newberry received his badge in 2014. His project involved constructing and installing an outdoor archery range at the Clark County Shooting Complex. He joins his father, Robert James Newberry; uncles Tom Schaus, Dennis Newberry and Allen Newberry; and cousins Dan and Ben Newberry, Jonathan, Christopher, and Alexander Schaus as Eagle Scouts. He is the son of Rob “Hoss” and Mary Newberry of Las Vegas.

The Meadows School recently announced that alumna and Stanford University junior Megan Alexander is one of three recipients of the 2015 Kirsten Frohnmayer Research Prize in Human Biology. The annual award is given to three Stanford human biology majors in their junior year who exhibit academic excellence, altruism and the potential to make a difference in society through research. Alexander is set to be honored at the Human Biology Awards Ceremony June 12 at Stanford.

Project 150, a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in Southern Nevada and Reno, recently hired Debbie Harpster as executive director. Harpster brings 12 years experience working with local youth nonprofit organizations providing diversity training and anti-bullying programs and strong relationship building, fund development and program administration skills. Most recently, she served at United Way of Southern Nevada and volunteers on the board of Acelero Learning Clark County, the Clark County Continuum of Care Evaluation Working Group and is a member of the Nevada Homeless Alliance.

Jose L. Melendrez was recently appointed to the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s Board of Trustees by the Las Vegas City Council. He replaces outgoing board member Kelly Benavidez. Melendrez is the assistant vice president in the UNLV Office of Diversity Initiatives. His term will run through March 2019.

The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) recently welcomed Timothy Hanlon of Wells Fargo, Christopher LaPorte of Insert Coin(s) and author and keynote speaker Jeremy L. Wallace as new members to its board of directors. Additionally, The Center recently elected new board officers, including Raul Daniels as president and Mary F. Chapman as vice president.

Drayson Little of Las Vegas made the dean’s list for the fourth grading period of the 2014-15 school year and has received Army and Navy Academy’s Dean Raymond Ede Superior Academic Achievement Award for his performance during the fall 2015 semester at the school in Carlsbad, Calif.

Army Pvt. Adriana Gutierrez graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Gutierrez is the sister of Victor Gutierrez of Las Vegas and is a 2013 graduate of Valley High School.

Army Spc. John Raymund S. Gunio graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Gunio is the son-in-law of Amor Ponciano of North Las Vegas.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi announced that Nasslynne Lenz of Henderson was recently initiated into Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.

Johnlord Sy of Las Vegas was named Cadet of Distinction at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, Calif.

Air Force Airman Larry M. Hebdon graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Hebdon is the son of Antonella and Larry Hebdon of San Antonio and brother of Christina Hebdon of Las Vegas. The airman graduated in 2012 from Legacy High School.

Air Force Airman Aaron L. Gulewicz graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Gulewicz is the son of Felicia and Tedd Gulewicz of Las Vegas and is a 2013 graduate of Arbor View High School.

Air Force Airman Cody J. Hughes graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Hughes is the son of Melissa A. Mills of Taylorsville, Utah, and Mark A. Hughes of Las Vegas.

Air Force Airman Tristin L. Livingston graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Livingston is the son of Courtney J. Kaul of Las Vegas and Brandon L. Livingston of Nashville, Ga. He is also the stepson of Chris J. Kaul of Las Vegas. He is a 2014 graduate of Arbor View High School.

Air Force Airman Zamiel M. Adams graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. He is the son of Mathew F. Adams and Tonia D. Williams of Las Vegas and is a 2014 graduate of Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy.

Merryhill Preschool in Las Vegas hosted All About Art, an event to benefit the Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation. During the event, students auctioned off more than 55 original art pieces and raised more than $1,200 to help hospice patients in the Las Vegas area. Through this experience, students learned the importance of helping community members. Visit nah.org.