Newsmakers
Kristin Raterman, a nail technician at Marinello Schools of Beauty in Henderson, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship as part of the Access to Cosmetology Education Scholarship Program.
Raterman read her award-winning essay at an awards ceremony Feb. 10. The event was sponsored by Sport Clips.
Paola Armeni of Las Vegas was named Young Lawyer of the Year for 2011 by the State Bar of Nevada.
She recently was named a shareholder at Gordon Silver Attorneys and Counselors at Law.
She specializes in government investigations and business crimes and practices in the areas of litigation, specifically criminal law and civil rights.
Armeni has assisted in several high- profile criminal cases tried in both the U.S. District Court and Eighth Judicial District Court, and she has participated in the only impeachment hearing of a Nevada public official.
Armeni participates in the William S. Boyd Law School Mentor Program. She is involved in the High School Mock Trial Competition, volunteers for the Trial by Peers Program and is the current chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Nevada.
Paul Climer of Las Vegas recently attended the Kitchen Tune-Up National Reunion in Nashville, Tenn.
Climer, who owns a local Kitchen Tune-Up business, met with franchise owners from the U.S. and Canada and attended a three-day training conference learning commercial and residential sales, kitchen trends and product training.
At the conference, Climer received the Regional Customer Service Award.
Mary Vail of Las Vegas has won a $10,000 cash prize from Newman's Own.
Vail is a philanthropist and public relations professional who has hosted a food drive for the past 13 years as part of the USA Weekend Magazine Make a Difference Day.
Project organizers from across the U.S. submit their activities for review and consideration for the award.
The official announcement is set to be published in USA Weekend magazine, and the award presentation is scheduled for April 19 in Washington, D.C.
The annual food drive has been held at Smith's Food & Drug stores for the past 13 years. The drive benefits the Las Vegas Salvation Army. Many local entertainers and personalities have loaned their support.
Vail's husband, Dave, and children Sean and Ashley have played supporting roles in the food drives.
Alfonso Ayala, Chelsea Brown and Stephanie Dupree have been named resource development officers for the United Way of Southern Nevada.
Their main responsibilities include coordinating and managing workplace campaigns, obtaining new clients and educating nonprofits on the benefits of partnering with United Way.
Ayala, a native of Henderson, served as a family resource center case manager for HopeLink, where he counseled individuals seeking rental and utility assistance. He holds bachelor's degrees in sociology and political science from Arizona State University and is scheduled to receive a master's degree in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in May.
Brown, a native of Las Vegas, was previously a research assistant at Charles River Laboratories, serving as a project manager. She holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Dupree was a student affairs assistant for community service and commuter student services at San Diego State University. She received a bachelor's degree in international relations from Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu and a master's degree in education from San Diego State University.
