Saddleback College Student Chosen for Soviet-American Rafting in Siberia

Nancy Wilson, 19, a Tustin High School graduate and student at Saddleback College, was one of 10 young Americans selected to join 10 young Soviets for a Siberian rafting trip.

The group currently is on a 12-day trip on the Katun River in the Altat region of Siberia. Next year, the Soviets will join the American group on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.

The trips have been organized by the San Francisco-based Russians and Americans For Teamwork (RAFT) to help the youths learn about each other’s values and customs. It is the first time RAFT has sponsored such a trip.

The youths were chosen on the basis of their interest in the other country and their commitment to improved relations.

Six Orange County people have been named winners of Caring California, a recognition program sponsored by May Co. They are Valerie Weigt, a literacy volunteer of Buena Park; Walter Johnson, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Costa Mesa; John Renna, recreation program volunteer of Orange; William Taylor, a teacher’s aide in Mission Viejo; Juanita Martin, longtime volunteer in Brea, and Ruth Purdy, of Westminster, who counsels troubled teen-age mothers.

The winners were presented $50 gift certificates. May Co. also donated $500 each to a charity of their choice.

Cypress Girl Scout Troop 1667 was awarded first place in the food category at the recent Cypress Community Festival for its barbecued teriyaki burgers served by Girl Scouts dressed in top hat and tails.

Carmen and Michael Powers of Buena Park invited 80 guests to a recent recognition banquet at the Sequoia Athletic Club in Buena Park to honor their son, Gary Quezada, on his graduation from the U.S. Air Force First Sergeant’s Academy.

“We felt he should be honored for his accomplishments in the service,” said Michael Powers, “and because he’s done a marvelous job raising a family.”

Quezada, born in Costa Rica, saw duty in Vietnam with the Marine Corps and later transferred to the Air Force.

His stepfather, a professional singer, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and then presented Quezada with American, Air Force and Costa Rican flags.

Golden West College nursing program graduate Marie Teague of Long Beach was named winner of the $2,500 annual Carl W. Bull Award for Excellence in the Nursing Profession.

Susan E. Manrow of Corona del Mar and Norma J. Nisco of Fountain Valley, both Golden West College graduates, received $250 each for being finalists. The awards are to be used to further their professional development.

Teague, who graduated in 1974 and is the mother of two, is a maternity nursing specialist at the Los Alamitos Medical Center.

Harvey Cova of Irvine, a tax specialist and 1956 graduate of Woodbury University in Burbank, has been appointed to the school’s board of trustees. Earlier this year he was named Woodbury’s Outstanding Alumnus of the Year.

Bonnie P. Castrey of Huntington Beach, a mediator-arbitrator and a 1972 graduate of Cal State Long Beach, has won the Western State/Cal State Long Beach full-tuition scholarship to Western State University College of Law.

The scholarship is valued at $22,000.

Castrey has settled major labor disputes throughout Southern California, including the Disneyland master services strike in 1984 and last year’s Orange County Transit District union dispute.

She will attend the school’s Orange County campus in Fullerton.

A three-year accreditation has been awarded by the state to Goodwill Industries of Orange County for its rehabilitation programs, occupational skill training, job placement and work service. “Everyone in Goodwill can be proud of this distinction,” said George Kessinger, Goodwill president.

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