HIGH LIFE : 12 High School Seniors Win Merit Scholarships

Twelve Orange County high school students are among the 146 California winners of National Merit Scholarships in the third and final round of 1988 award announcements released this week.

Earlier this year, the Illinois-based National Merit Scholarship Corp. had named winners of the first two rounds of selection for the coveted scholarships. Winners in the final round each will receive between $1,000 and $8,000 during the four years they attend a college or university, organization officials said. Third-round scholarships are donated by colleges and universities across the nation.

The Orange County winners named this week are:

Todd S. Aagaard of Fullerton (Sonora High School), Susan A. Beveridge of Costa Mesa (Newport Harbor), Kenneth Coleman of El Toro (El Toro), Jennifer L. Costello of Brea (Rosary), Matthew D. Fletcher of Fullerton (Sunny Hills), Dean M. Gray of Anaheim (Katella), Deborah P. Heuerman of Fountain Valley (Los Amigos), Maura K. McDonald of Fountain Valley (Mater Dei), Eric J. Miyadi of Westminster (La Quinta), Lorette L. Stone of Fountain Valley (Fountain Valley), Anne M. Tanaka of Santa Ana (Foothill), and Michael E. Wolffe of Orange (Villa Park).

Los Alamitos High School began operating its Safe-Rides program April 15. Confidential rides home will be provided to students on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Safe-Rides phone number is (714) 596-7474.

Lacy Blanchard, a 16-year-old junior at Canyon High School, has been chosen to participate in the Miss California Teen-Ager Pageant to be held June 10-13 at Pepperdine University in Malibu.

The winner will compete in the Miss National Teen-Ager Pageant in Hawaii on Aug. 10.

“I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn’t park anywhere near the place.”

--Steven Wright, comedian