Volunteer receives national honor
For his volunteer service, James Lui, an IT administrator for ARAMARK Uniform Services in Burbank, recently received a Gold Jefferson Award for Public Service — one of the nation’s top honors for community service and volunteerism.
As a board member with the Asian Professionals Exchange, Lui has turned his passion for improvisational theater into an opportunity to impact hundreds of Asian-American children in the Greater Los Angeles area by working to expand creative arts education in his community. He volunteers dozens of hours each month, not only for the Exchange, but for other programs as well.
In the wake of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, Lui helped create a social media campaign that raised more than $1,000 in donations in just three hours. He also worked with his theater group to donate all the proceeds of a show to the Japan America Society Relief Fund.
Videographer given PTA scholarship
Brendan Baker, a John Burroughs High School 2011 graduate, received a JBHS PTA scholarship to help him pursue a bachelor’s degree in art from Cal State Northridge in the fall.
While at Burroughs, Baker was a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, vice-president of the Photo Club and a contributing photographer for the high school yearbook. Over the last four years, Baker has devoted more than 400 community service hours as a photographer and videographer for the Emmy Winning Burbank local Channel 6 television program, “Teens in Action.” The program helps teens handle the many difficult issues that affect teens today. The program has produced documentaries covering topics such as teen bullying, depression and discrimination.
Baker’s photography was also recently displayed at the Youth Art Expo and featured in Burbank’s book titled, “The Verdugo Mountains.” To see more of Brendan’s photography, visit web.me.com/baker.photography.
Graduating from training centers
Coast Guard Seaman Travis J. Claycomb, son of Michele and Brian S. Claycomb of Glendale, recently was graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Claycomb is a 1999 graduate of Palm Springs High School of Palm Springs, Calif.
Air National Guard Airman Christina D. Reuter was graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Joseph Reuter of Burbank, and granddaughter of Madelyn Reuter of Glendale. Reuter was graduated in 2010 from Burbank High School.
Making the university dean’s list
Cynthia LeShay of Glendale, a 2010 graduate of Westridge School For Girls in Pasadena, made the dean’s list at Bucknell University has during the spring semester of the 2010-11 academic year.
Resident joins cigar association
George HaFoury, a professional tobacconist with Zoldian Cigar in Glendale, has qualified for membership in the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Assn.
With more than 2,000 members throughout the United States and 31 foreign countries, the association is a nonprofit industry organization representing retailers, manufacturers and distributors of handmade cigars, pipes and accessories.
McDonald’s gives scholarship
Burbank resident and Burbank High School graduating senior Jennifer Kim has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California to help pay for college.
Just 104 students were selected as recipients out of more than 4,000 applicants. Jennifer’s chosen major is Pre-Med. She hopes to become a pediatrician. Jennifer’s little brother was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008, and she also lost a classmate to the same disease. Her goal in life is to develop a cure for leukemia. She has partnered with the Be a Match foundation to set up a bone barrow drive in Burbank. Jennifer will be attending the University of Colorado in Denver this fall.