The Never Ever Give Up Foundation has received a $2,500 grant from the Orange County Community Foundation. The NEGU Foundation was started because of 12-year-old Jessica Joy Rees’s battle with brain cancer. Rees of Rancho Santa Margarita died in January. Shelley Hoss, president of OCCF, presented the check to Rees’s parents Erik and Stacey Rees.
NEGU spreads awareness of pediatric cancer and spreads hope to children fighting the disease, among other things, by filling Joy Jars. NEGU won the grant by having its Facebook supporters vote for their favorite Orange County nonprofit over a five-day period. NEGU won with 3,000 votes.
SOCCER-PRO IN THE MAKING
San Juan Hills High School student Allyson Barys has been recruited to the Georgia College and State University soccer team. As a senior at San Juan Hills High, Barys has been a starter on the varsity squad since her sophomore year. During her junior year, she earned the varsity team MVP award as well as being named to the First Team All-Sea View League. She is captain of the senior squad. Throughout her high school training, she has maintained a 4.3 GPA and she has earned placement on the principal’s and superintendent’s honor roll all four years. She was also honored with the Scholar Athlete Award for the three years she has played varsity soccer. Outside of school, Barys has volunteered through the National Honor Society, Teens for Troops and the Julie Foudy Foundation.
HIGH AMBITIONS
Air Force Airman Wilber Velasco Penate has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Penate, a 2008 graduate of Trabuco Hills High School, completed an eight-week program, which included training in military discipline, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles. Velasco Penate is the son of Mirna Perez of Rancho Santa Margarita.
DEAN’S LIST
Some local students have earned placement on the academic dean’s list at Azusa Pacific University. The students are honored for having a 3.5 or better grade-point average. Locals include Emily Peterson and Kathryn Beniche of Lake Forest; Samantha Ellis, Bradley Zimmer, Shannon Lee, Lindsay Ujihara, Kaley Lindquist and Jennifer Miller of Mission Viejo; Emily Prichard, Chelsea Shea and Hayley Stroh of Laguna Hills; and O’Neil Van Horn of Aliso Viejo.
A GREEN CELEBRATION
Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge raised more than $2,000 for charity from its St. Patrick’s Dinner dance. About 210 guests enjoyed an authentic Irish buffet dinner and special Irish entertainment. Dancers from Aniar Academy of Laguna Niguel performed Irish dancing. Elks Lodge member Ray Mallen organized the event.
A SPECIAL VISIT
Mission Viejo Councilwoman Trish Kelley gave a tour of City Hall to Philian Louise Weygan, a council member from Baguio City in the Republic of the Philippines. Weygan came to learn about the city’s Community of Character Program. Kelley is co-founder of the Community of Character Program that highlights 12 monthly character qualities: responsibility, respect, thankfulness, caring, perseverance, unity, integrity, service, moral courage, citizenship, fairness and self-control.