Golden West College graduates 20 new officers

The class started out with 34 recruits -- upon graduation, there were

only 20.

“It takes a lot of effort, heart and help to complete this

course,” said Gary T. Knostman, graduate of Golden West College’s

Criminal Justice Training Center. “I couldn’t have done it on my

own.”

The 125th graduating class of Golden West College’s Criminal

Justice Training Center held its ceremonies in the larger and more

spacious Robert B. Moore Theater at Orange Coast College on Friday.

“Welcome to the Thin Blue Line. From this point forward, your

fundamental duty is t serve mankind,” keynote speaker, Tustin Police

Chief Steve Foster greeted the cadets, referring to the well-known

phrase that intimates they are now the final barrier which stands

between our citizens and chaos.

Since the first class, in 1955, more than 8,000 officers have

completed training at Golden West College -- where each recruit

received 966 hours of training over a 24-week period.

“The greatest realization I have come to know, since entering the

academy, is that law enforcement is a family,” said graduate Justin

Lippolt.

Surf City girl wins shopping spree with Mary Lou Retton

Katie Hu, 7, of Huntington Beach won a prize sure to thrill an

aspiring young gymnast like herself: A $500 shopping spree with

Olympic gymnastics champion, Mary Lou Retton.

It was the grand prize drawing at Arrowhead Pond, in Anaheim.

“We were really surprised that we won,” said Katie’s mother,

Gloria Hu. “We were contacted by phone and Katie was really excited.”

The drawing winner was announced just prior to and in conjunction

with the Pond’s hosting of the 100th anniversary of the World

Gymnastics Championships.

Katie, a gymnast at the Clubhouse, an exclusive club for toddlers,

children and teens, at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, was

automatically entered in the drawing. She was selected at random from

a pool of mail-in entries and the automatic entry of the Clubhouse

members.

The shopping spree took place in Macy’s at South Coast Plaza,

where Mary Lou helped Katie pick out some school clothes.

The Hu family plan to save a portion of the money for next year’s

clothes.