A Close-Up Look At People Who Matter : Northridge Teen-Ager Goes to Washington
A Northridge teen-ager has been chosen to attend the National Young Leaders Conference this week in Washington, D.C.
Todd Anton, 16, is among 350 students attending the six-day conference that started Tuesday.
The conference is a leadership development program for outstanding high school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit.
Anton, a junior at Los Angeles Lutheran High School in Sylmar, plays on his school’s football team--both defense and offense--plays drums in jazz and concert bands and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“I’m excited,” said Anton, who has never visited Washington. “I’m interested in learning more about how government works.”
The theme of the conference is “The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today.” Anton and other students will visit a foreign embassy, the National Press Club and meet with lawmakers and State Department officials.
The conference is sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Five longtime San Fernando Valley volunteers will be honored Nov. 5 at the Fernando Award Dinner for the hours they donated to the community.
The five are finalists for the 35th Fernando Award, San Fernando Valley’s lifetime achievement award for volunteerism. They were chosen from 17 volunteers nominated by area chambers of commerce.
Nominated are Gilbert G. Benjamin Jr., a retired FBI agent and Granada Hills resident; Bud Brown, a GTE retiree and Thousands Oaks resident; North Hollywood resident Guy Weddington McCreary of Weddington Investment Partnership; Encino resident Robert Neiman of Pacific Investment Associates; and Los Angeles resident Clyde Porter of P. L. Porter Co.
Benjamin will be honored posthumously. He died Aug. 21 at the age of 74. Benjamin volunteered with organizations as diverse as the National Wildlife Federation, L. A. County Sheriff’s office, Granada Hills Little League, Valley College Historical Museum Assn., North Valley YMCA, the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce, San Fernando Valley Fair and many other organizations.
Brown has served on the Sunland/Tujunga Community Advisory Council, the Pacoima Enterprise Zone and the Sylmar/Mission Hills Community Advisory Council. He has been active in nonprofit organizations, including New Directions for Youth, San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Council, the American Heart Assn. and the Heaven on Earth Ranch for Handicapped Children.
Weddington McCreary is president of Campo de Cahuenga Memorial Assn., chairman of the Amelia Earhart Historical and Education Committee, finance chairman of Boy Scouts of America Cahuenga District, co-chairman of the Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee and past president of the North Hollywood Kiwanis club.
Porter has given time and money to the Valley Cultural Center, Haven Hills Home for Battered Women and Abused Children, West Valley Food Pantry, Woodland Hills Library and is president of the Warner Center Institute for Family Development. He donated computers to the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce and Owensmouth Continuation School.
Actor Beau Bridges will receive the Nelle Reagan Award for Distinguished Community Service from Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Foundation Oct. 21 at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills.
Bridges founded the Pearl White Theatre of Performing Arts of Venice in 1976 and has been financial backer, director and teacher.
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