Santa Margarita High Yell Leaders Crowned

The Santa Margarita High School varsity cheerleader squad was declared winner over 46 other schools in the recent two-weekend Magic Mountain cheerleading competition.

Participating were Andrea Avdeef, Heather Jones, Deana Pointon, Erica Policky, Carrie Sawyer, Erin Stone, Shannon Swanson, Niki De Fries, Tanya Ingardia, Jan Morrell, Amy Renzieheusen, Maria Roybal, Sonia Saenz, Dana Woods, Katie Fracisco and Jami Orlowski.

Earlier the squad competed in the National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Fla., where it finished seventh out of 97 squads.

The squad is coached by Jodi Sweet and advised by Paul Marks, the school activities director.

Frances Reyes Antes, 16, of La Mirada was crowned 1991 Orange County Miss T.E.E.N. and will compete in the state pageant in July in Los Angeles. Nicolle Taylor of Fountain Valley was first runner-up.

First-place winners in the Saddleback College annual high school creative-writing contest include John McLaughlin of Santa Margarita High for poetry, Christian Landau of Santa Margarita High for critical essay, Sian Baker of Laguna Hills High for short story and Kim Ortega of Capistrano Valley High for personal essay.

Los Alamitos High School seniors Paula Thomas, Amy Vandergast, Todd Solomon and Wayne Miller, have been named Bank of America Achievement Award Plaque regional winners and will compete later for cash awards up to $2,000.

Huntington Beach resident Neisha Tamara Lopez will be part of the NCA Superstar Spirit of America performance team that will march Sunday in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland.

That night, the group will also perform at the Lord Mayor’s Ball.

The NCA team is formed from award- winning drill team, flag, pompon and cheerleader groups. Neisha is a cheerleader at Marina High School in Huntington Beach.

Irvine resident Mitzi Tonai was presented the prestigious Athena Award by Newport Harbor Panhellenic for outstanding volunteerism in her community.

Tonai, nominated by the Irvine chapter of the American Assn. of University Women, was cited for her volunteer efforts with the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the AAUW, National Charity League and People for Irvine Community Health.

Robert Holliday has been named Elk of the Year by Garden Grove Elks Lodge 1952. He will be honored at a roast March 30.

Maranathal Music of Laguna Hills was presented the National Religious Broadcasters President’s Award at the group’s annual annual convention in Washington for its contributions to religious broadcasting.

The Costa Mesa broadcasting company said it is “committed to new songs of reformation and renewal . . . to motivate creative talent to develop products that inspire . . . a more personal relationship with God.”

Olivia Herman, a student at University High School in Irvine, has won a one-month, expense-paid study trip to Germany in the recent National German Examination of the American Assn. of Teachers of German.

An estimated 20,000 students took the test, 850 in California. Olivia was the winner among the 15 finalists in California.

Olivia will be honored at an awards banquet Monday at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim.

Submit items to Three Cheers, The Times c/o Herbert J. Vida, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626