People

* Spotlight on achievers

Reginald Penner

Chemistry professor, UC Irvine

Penner, an assistant professor at UC Irvine, is one of 16 educators nationwide to receive a $60,000 Teacher-Scholar Award from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Inc.

The award recognizes Penner’s excellence in research work and teaching. The UCI chemistry department for undergraduate education will receive $5,000 of the funds.

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Marlene Draper

School board trustee, South County

Draper, a trustee of the Capistrano Unified School District, has been elected to the Delegate Assembly of the California School Boards Assn.

Draper will represent Orange County and act as liaison between county board members and the association.

She has been a trustee with the district since 1988.

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Norman A. Thompson

Concentration camp liberator, Orange

For his role in freeing survivors of WWII’s Dachau concentration camp, Thompson has received a Yom HaShoah Liberator’s Medal. The event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi camps.

Thompson, an Orange resident who served with the U.S. Army’s 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Rainbow Division, was 19 years old when he entered Dachau.

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Dave Alkema

Park superintendent, Costa Mesa

Alkema was given the Tree Hero Award by the Costa Mesa City Council.

The award was presented by Costa Mesa ReLeaf, which is part of the California ReLeaf Network. A dozen people from across the state were recognized for their outstanding support of tree programs.

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DUI apprehension team

Westminster Police Department

The three-member team was honored by the Westminster City Council for making more than 500 drunk-driving arrests last year.

The team, headed by Sgt. Mitchell Waller, also was credited with a 90% conviction rate. The team’s other officers are Thomas Blackburn and Sean Williamson.

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Robert Ziemer

Resident, Newport Beach

Ziemer donated nearly $4,000 to a fund for the family of slain Newport Beach Police Officer Bob Henry.

Henry left a wife, two toddlers and a newborn behind when he was shot in the line of duty March 12. He died April 13.

Ziemer donated a 1951 Nash to be sold.

Other people wishing to make donations may contact the Robert Henry Fund, c/o Sgt. Andy Gonis, 870 Santa Barbara Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92660.

--COMPILED BY LESLEY WRIGHT, WITH JEFF BEAN, HOPE HAMASHIGE, RUSS LOAR AND HOLLY WAGNER