4 Win Gold Medals for Vocational Skills

Cypress College students John Glass, Mike Yoo and Larry Ensign, all of Anaheim, and Andrew Fu of Cypress won gold medals in the recent Olympic Skills regional contest, which tests vocational skills.

Glass and Yoo won in separate events in automotive collision repair held at Cerritos College. Fu scored in the automotive service category and Ensign won in welding in the California State Vocational Clubs of America (VICA) contest.

Silver medals were won by Mike Navarro of Santa Ana and Jim Sipprelle of Los Alamitos. The gold and silver medal winners will participate in the state VICA Skills Olympics on April 26 at Cypress College.

Adam Byrne, a student at Willard Intermediate School in Santa Ana, won a $100 savings bond for his essay in the “Why We Should Honor Our Flag’ contest that involved 342 sixth-graders.

Joseph Vu Ngo, 22, a photography student at Orange Coast College, won the grand prize in the New York Institute of Photography contest that attracted 3,000 entries from around the world. He was awarded a Hasselblad camera.

His award-winning picture, “Survival,” depicted his cousin shining shoes. Ngo, who lives in La Verne, came to the United States from Vietnam in 1981.

Besides being in the photography class, Ngo studies art at Cal State Fullerton.

Laurel Elementary School crossing guard Dale Bedwell of Brea was named Employee of the Quarter by Brea city employees.

During his 15 years of service, there has not been a reported accident or mishap while Bedwell was on duty at the corner of Birch Street and Flower Avenue.

Because of a rare blood disease that requires ongoing treatment and blood transfusions, Bedwell was forced to leave his post recently. The Brea Police Department sponsored a blood drive that collected 37 pints.

Cypress resident Phyllis M. Hawkins, one of the founders of the Neighborhood Watch Program, was selected 1990 Woman of the Year for the 71st Assembly District by Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress).

“Phyllis is a member of that select group of people who is willing to get totally involved in a positive way with her community,” Allen said.

Hawkins and other 1990 district winners will be honored in Sacramento. Earlier district winners are Deborah Moore of Anaheim, Donna Bagley of Buena Park and Mildred Jones of Los Alamitos.

Corona del Mar resident Douglas P. Simpson was presented the USC Fred B. Olde Support Group Award “for extraordinary and unparalleled service on behalf of USC.” Simpson, a 1962 USC graduate, was recognized for his work to broaden the support of USC graduates living in Orange County.

Veteran Fullerton College music teacher Brent Pierce was honored recently by the French National Symphony with world premieres of his Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in both Paris and Cannes.

The Fullerton resident, who attended the premieres, teaches music theory and counterpoint and directs the Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz Ensemble at the college.

City of Orange Personnel Director Orv Placial was named winner of the Emery E. Olson Achievement Award by the Southern California Personnel Management Assn. for his “sustained outstanding contributions through active advocacy of sound personnel practice and service. . . . “

Seventh-grader Keir DuBois, of Marco Forster Junior High School in San Juan Capistrano has qualified to participate at the state level of the National Geography Bee in Sacramento Friday. He is one of about 100 finalists in his age group.