Favorite Sons & Daughters
Ashlee Nelson, 17, and Amberly Nelson, 15, received recognition at the Future Business Leaders of America Awards of Excellence ceremony July 2.
Ashlee competed in the Public Speaking II category and took third place. Amberly competed in the Public Speaking I category and took first place.
The sisters presented a five-minute speech of a business nature, using one or more of the nine FBLA goals.
The teens are the daughters of Bruce and Cori Nelson of Henderson. They attend Southeast Career Technical Academy.
Elizabeth "Gracey" Mayer, a student at Clark High School, has received a $2,000 scholarship from Post 65 of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA.
The scholarship is given through the Las Vegas chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International, an association of educators. Criteria for the scholarship include academic record, personal history of service and evidence of leadership qualities.
Mayer has been accepted to attend the University of New Mexico.
She is the daughter of John and Linda Mayer and sister of Aubrey Mayer.
Fernando Rocha, 18, has been chosen as one of the 1,000 Gates Millennium Scholars for the class of 2012. The scholarship covers all educational expenses of students up to their doctoral degrees.
Rocha, a senior at Canyon Springs High School's Leadership and Law Prepatory Academy, is the son of Fernando and Imelda Rocha of Las Vegas.
Phillip Cannizzo, 19, graduated from U.S. Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, on April 6.
He was the Platoon High Shooter.
A 2011 graduate of Shadow Ridge High School, Cannizzo is the son of Paul Cannizzo of Las Vegas.
Larissa Andersen has graduated with a master's degree in library and information science from San Jose State University in California.
She earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education with majors in English and theater from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2006.
A 2002 honors graduate of Valley High School's International Baccalaureate program, Andersen is the daughter of Kim and Wes Andersen of Las Vegas.
Dominic LaRocco, 19, has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia. He has completed airborne school and is scheduled for Army Ranger selection in August.
LaRocco is a 2011 graduate of Foothill High School. He is the son of Elizabeth LaRocco and Dominic LaRocco and stepson of Michele LaRocco, all of Henderson.
Kyle Kithas has been named to the president's list at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., for the spring 2012 semester.
Enrolled in the university's five-year architecture program, he has been named to the dean's list for the previous three consecutive quarters.
A 2011 valedictorian graduate of Advanced Technologies High School, Kithas is the son of Joseph Kithas and Patricia Moisan of Las Vegas.
Garrett Hofmann has achieved Eagle Scout status in the Boy Scouts of America.
A member of Troop 903, Hofmann remodeled a hall and nurses' station at the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City for his Eagle project.
A student at Liberty High School, he is a member of the jazz band, marching band, concert band and the National Honor Society.
He hopes to become a surgeon.
Hofmann is the son of Stephen and Robin Hofmann of Henderson.
Bhalwinder Singh has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C.
Singh is a 2009 graduate of Eldorado High School.
Dylan Weber has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Weber is an Air National Guard airman first class. A 2011 graduate of Centennial High School, he is the son of Andy Weber and Cindy Weber, both of Las Vegas.
Benjamin Swartout has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio as an honor graduate.
A 2009 graduate of Coronado High School in Henderson, Swartout is the son of Maia Emery of Summerville, S.C., and Charles Swartout of Nampa, Idaho.
Shelby Nelson of Las Vegas made the dean's list at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga., for the spring 2012 semester. Nelson is majoring in exercise science.
