Newsmakers, May 29-June 3, 2014

Military/veteran caregiver and Henderson resident Amber Linder traveled to Washington, D.C., in April to meet with members of Congress and attend a White House event hosted by first lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. Linder was selected as an Elizabeth Dole Fellow and serves as a spokeswoman and adviser to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which was founded by Sen. Elizabeth Dole to provide better support to the 5.5 million loved ones caring for ill and injured service members.

American Mothers Inc. recently announced its Nevada honors: Robin Van Kempen of Henderson won Mother of the Year; Nikki Morgan Butler of Henderson won Nevada Young Mother; and the Community Mothers of Honor included Silvia Figueroa, Charlotte Carter and Deisy Martinez-Viera, all of Las Vegas, honored because of essays written by their sons or daughters. Keara Harris of North Las Vegas, Tracy Taylor of Las Vegas and Virginia Walker of Henderson also received Community Mothers of Honor awards after being selected from national online submissions.

Air Force Reserve Airman Connor E. Hanns graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Hanns is the son of Jennifer and stepson of Alfonso Bax of Lewiston, N.Y. and Christian E. Hanns of Las Vegas.

Pfc. James George Hampton graduated from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego as an Honorman. Hampton is the son of Jeffrey and Carolann Hampton of Henderson and is a 2013 graduate of Coronado High School.

Izobel Sturges, 12, a seventh-grader at Leavitt Middle School, and Cianna Sturges, 9, a fourth grader at Deskin Elementary School, were honored April 16 by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman for writing their family guidebook, “LAS VEGAS … ARE WE THERE YET?”

Air Force Airman Rodel Mauri graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Mauri is the son of Rodrigo Mauri of Las Vegas and Adelaida Mauri of Chino, Calif. He is a 2011 graduate of Spring Valley High School.

Air Force Airman Tyler G. Rapp graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. He is the son of Michael and Renee D. Myers of Henderson and is a 2013 graduate of Southeast Career and Technical Academy.

Air Force Airman Najee D. Jackson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Jackson is the son of Audray M. Canada and Sharlene R. Jackson of Las Vegas. He is a 2012 graduate of Mojave High School.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Arquasaton N. Ashford graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Ashford is the son of Romeeka Richardson of Las Vegas and grandson of Roberta Richardson of North Las Vegas. He is a 2013 graduate of Centennial High School.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed was honored with a siropa (robe of honor) May 11 at Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji in Las Vegas. Siropa was presented by board member Dr. Amarjeet Kaur Pannu while Gurdwara President Rajinder Singh Dhaliwal and Dr. Upinder Singh spoke about Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism.

Army Pfc. Randall P. Reynolds graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. Reynolds is the son of Nicole Blinn of Henderson and Jeanne Reynolds of Tinley Park, Ill.

Amanda Gelbart of Shadow Ridge High School was chosen as Clark County School District’s Star Graduate. Gelbart is one of the school’s valedictorian candidates. She accepted an offer to attend New York University to study mechanical engineering. Throughout her high school career, she has accumulated more than 650 hours of service projects and is a recipient of the Gold Award, which she won for developing a set of lessons plans aligned to the Common Core State Standards, with an emphasis on music.

Centennial High School student Tiana Bonds ranked high in the 300 hurdles after her performance at the Mt. SAC Relays, held in mid-April at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, she posted a season-best time of 13.62 in the 100 hurdles.

Officials at Mayville State University in Mayville, N.D., announced that Danielle Sheridan of Las Vegas has been awarded an Honor Scholarship for the 2014-15 school year. Sheridan is the daughter of Marci Sheridan.

Air Force Airman Angus S. MacIntosh graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. MacIntosh is the son of Joan M. and Neal S. MacIntosh of Las Vegas and is a 2010 graduate of Bonanza High School.

U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Jaren E. Generalao graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Generalao is the son of Sharmaine P. Cera Generalao of Las Vegas and grandson of Gilbert Cera of Papaikou, Hawaii.

Adrian Fune has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army after completing the Army ROTC program and graduating with a bachelor’s degree from UNLV. Fune is the son of Regina Fune of Las Vegas and Roy Fune of Annapolis, Md. He is a 2010 graduate of Liberty High School.

Army Pvt. Emilio J. Aguilar graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. Aguilar is the son of Norma Livie and stepson of Sean Livie of Henderson and nephew of Imelda Vargas of Laredo, Texas. He is a 2012 graduate of Foothill High School.

Bradley Arkens of Las Vegas received a Scholar Athlete Award from Simpson University in Redding, Calif. Arkens participated on Simpson’s men’s cross country team and maintained a GPA of 3.5-3.7 during 2013-2014. Arkens’s major is Cross-Cultural Studies.