Newsmakers

Meagan HoChing was honored by the United Way of Southern Nevada on Aug. 19 for her commitment to service with a special ceremony at Desert Rose Adult High School attended by U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley and Henderson Councilwoman Gerri Schroder.

HoChing volunteered with HELP of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit organization offering resources to individuals seeking self-sufficiency.

Leland Eugene "Gene" Backus, a senior partner at the law firm of Backus, Carranza & Burden, has been named a Super Lawyer for the fifth straight year by Super Lawyer magazine, which lists outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Jonathan Senda, an AmeriCorps program coordinator, and Debra Gallo, director of government and state regulatory affairs for Southwest Gas, have been appointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval as commissioners to serve with Nevada Volunteers, the state commission for national and community service.

Frank Harris has been awarded the 2011 Robert Ross Personal Achievement Award for Nevada by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. After losing his son and stepson to neuromuscular diseases, Harris, who has myasthenia gravis, has become an advocate for the interests of people with disabilities in Nevada.

JR Starkus, lead bartender at rm Seafood at Mandalay Bay, won the Consumer Choice title in the Russian Standard Vodka and Food & Wine Magazine Create a Cocktail Competition.

Starkus plans to participate in the Tales of the Cocktail Competition in New Orleans.

Patricia "Pat" Fink, marketing director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, recieved a Most Valuable Player award at the 43rd annual conference of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras in Pasadena, Calif., July 22.

The award honors volunteers who demonstrate exceptional knowledge and commitment to a music organization in their community.

Fink has been involved with the philharmonic since 2008 and has served the organization as board secretary and marketing director.

Jeanne Mills, chef concierge for MGM Grand, has been elected president of Les Clefs d'Or USA, an organization of professional hotel concierges.

Mills has served on the board of directors of the organization since 2002 and has served as treasurer, director of fundraising and public relations, and vice president.

Matt Myers of Las Vegas received a first-place people's choice award from the United States Bartenders' Guild in its Tales of the Cocktail Piña Colada competition on July 22 in New Orleans.

Robin (Quinn) Whittaker, a 2005 graduate of UNLV, has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for her work as music editor on the HBO series "Game of Thrones," as well as music editor for the PBS miniseries, "Any Human Heart." The Emmy Awards are scheduled for Sept. 18.

David Howryla, a 1998 graduate of UNLV, has been named UNLV College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year.

Howryla has served as a member of the UNLV School of Architecture Council of Excellence since his graduation and is president of Marnell Consulting.

Do you know an individual adult whose achievements are worth a mention? If so, send us a brief description of his accomplishment, including name, the city where he lives, and a photograph to: Newsmakers, View Newspapers, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070 (photos cannot be returned) or email viewcalendars
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