Newsmakers, Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2014

The Cultural Diversity Foundation has announced its Golden Hand Service Awards, planned for Oct. 23 at the Gold Coast, 4000 W. Flamingo Road. The recipients of 2014 are: Rita Vaswani, vice president of Nevada State Bank; Judge Karen Bennett-Haron, Clark County Justice Court; Kim McAllister, background investigations specialist at Caesars Entertainment; Leslie Valdes, owner of Abuela’s Tacos; Tiger Todd, founder and president of Hero School; and Rosie Brown, case manager of Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services.

Air Force Airman Romel A. Alberson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. He is a 2014 graduate of Shadow Ridge High School.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino named Caitlin Grant of Liberty High School the winner of its second annual Guitar Pin Design Contest. The limited-edition pin is on sale for $12.95 in The Hard Rock Store; 100 percent of the net proceeds benefit The Public Education Foundation to help support fine art scholarships throughout the community.

Army Pvt. Le’asia Carter graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Carter is the daughter of Shelina Jones and sister of Precious Pruitt of Cincinnati and Marvin Carter of North Las Vegas.

U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Richmond J. Shealy graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Shealy is the son of Holly and Victor Shealy of Fulshear, Texas. He is a 2008 graduate of Coronado High School.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Matthew A. Towles graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Towles is the son of Linda Stapley of Taylor, Ariz., and Richard L. Towles of Henderson.

Jeffrey Song of Las Vegas has been awarded a four-year Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps scholarship. The scholarship pays for full tuition and academic fees, includes an annual book allowance and pays a monthly stipend for up to 10 months of each school year it is in effect. Song plans to attend the University of California, Irvine, in Irvine, Calif. He is a 2010 graduate of Sierra Vista High School.

Air Force Airman Andrew T. Mantle graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Mantle is the son of Candice M. Mantle of Henderson and is a 2011 graduate of Green Valley High School.

Army Pvt. James Reyes graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Reyes is the son of James Reyes and stepson of Sheryl Sapanza of North Las Vegas.

Alex Roan, an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadet at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., graduated from the Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Knox, Ky. He is a 2009 graduate of Spring Valley High School.

Air Force Airman 1st Class James R. Iverson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. He is a 2009 graduate of Del Sol High School.

The Community Associations Institute, Nevada Chapter, announced the 2014 Ordinary People, Extraordinary Measures Award recipients. They are: Jill Bernacki, Trauma Intervention Program; Rex Doty, Toys 4 Smiles; Rae Erickson, Those Left Behind Foundation; Abigail Spencer, Abby’s Million-Dollar Dream; and Melanie Ust, teacher, coach and mentor.

Gretchen Baldau and Lauren Baldau made the spring 2014 dean’s list at the University of Dallas.

Clark Waggoner of Las Vegas made the summer 2014 dean’s list at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael A. Jackson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Jackson is the son of Cindy Jimenez J. Jackson of Monrovia, Calif., and Anthony M. Jackson of Henderson.