Culver City Student Gets Taste of Life Inside the Beltway

Carol Maradiaga, who will be a senior this fall at Culver City High School, spent last week at the 1991 National Young Leaders Conference in Washington. “I’d never been to the East,” she said. “It was the first time that I’d been on my own, and it was great.”

Maradiaga, who maintains a 3.7 grade-point average, was one of 350 high school students at the conference who were selected from around the country for their academic achievement, leadership and citizenship. The week’s activities included meeting with congressional staff members, sightseeing and discussing policy issues.

Students also participated in a mock Congress, assuming the roles of U.S. representatives. They debated, lobbied and voted on proposed handgun legislation. “I learned that lobbying for a bill was really difficult,” Maradiaga said. “Politicians might say something but actually mean another thing.”

Maradiaga doesn’t foresee a career in politics, planning instead to become an engineer. She has returned to her summer job at Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, where she volunteers 13 hours a week. She also does occasional baby-sitting for the Teen Center. “Some of the work is boring, but I like helping out,” she said.

Jerry Aarons, superintendent of window services for the Beverly Hills Post Office, has been selected as the local Postal Volunteer of the Year.

Aaron, a 25-year postal employee, was honored for his service to the Boy Scouts of America and his contributions to Special Olympics. He has been a volunteer with the Boy Scouts for 20 years.

He was presented with a certificate of appreciation signed by U.S. Postmaster General Anthony M. Frank at a ceremony in Beverly Hills.

Pacific Palisades resident Dr. William Hummer has been elected president of St. John’s Hospital and Health Center Foundation for a two-year term. Hummer, an obstetrician and gynecologist, has been a foundation trustee since 1977 and was president of the hospital’s medical staff in 1988-90.

Two other Pacific Palisades residents, William Rutledge and Eugene St. John, and Roy Ash of Los Angeles have been elected foundation trustees.

Lynn Colvin has been named director of general studies at Sinai Akiba Academy in Los Angeles.

Colvin, an educator for 23 years, has been an interim superintendent, an assistant superintendent and a principal at several public schools in the Los Angeles area. She is also an active member of the Assn. of California School Administrators and the Achievement Council.

The Rev. James Conn was elected the first chairman of the Los Angeles County Homeless Coordinating Council.

Conn, a minister at United Methodist Church in Santa Monica and former mayor of that city, will provide the Board of Supervisors with advice on public policy regarding the homeless. The HCC was created in the spring by Supervisor Ed Edelman.

Les Leibson of Beverly Hills B’nai B’rith has been named the 1991 recipient of the Sam Beber Distinguished Aleph Zadik Aleph Alumnus Award.

The award honors an AZA alumnus who has distinguished himself in his professional life and the Jewish community. He will receive the award at the annual International AZA Convention on Aug. 17 in Starlight, Penn.

The Malibu Woman’s Club awarded elementary students Ryan Leidner, Jaime Brooks, Ginina Pulcinella and Evan Schoolnik for being first-place winners of an essay contest.

The fifth-graders of the four Malibu elementary schools, were asked to write a 200-word essay on the topic of “How Can We Create a Peaceful World?” Each winner was presented with a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and a trophy.