Scrapbook

Mark Johanson
Mark Johanson of Morgan Hill was awarded the Presidential and
Music Leadership scholarships to attend Valparaiso University in
Indiana.
BIRTHS

Brody Michael Fassio

Brody Michael Fassio was born Aug. 28, 2007 at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister to parents Michelle and Jarrod Fassio of Hollister. He weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

Makaila Genevieve Morris

Makaila Genevieve Morris was born Sept. 18, 2007 at Community Hospital of Los Gatos to parents Rebekah and Steven Morris of San Martin. She weighed 10 pounds, 10 ounces.

Lesley Denise Blanton Root

Lesley Denise Blanton Root was born Sept. 27, 2007 at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister to parents Colleen Blanton and Charley Root of Hollister. She weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce.

HONORS

Mark Johanson

Mark Johanson of Morgan Hill was awarded the Presidential and Music Leadership scholarships to attend Valparaiso University in Indiana.

Mark is a graduate of Live Oak High School, where he was involved with the band. He also served as president of the ELCA’s Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee. He is the son of David and Margaret Johanson and plans to enroll in Valpo’s College of Arts and Sciences as a music education major.

Locals graduate from Santa Clara University

Five South Valley students have graduated from Santa Clara University with their undergraduate degrees:

– Allegra Eslick of Gilroy graduated with a degree in communication

– Jennifer Moody of Morgan Hill graduated with a degree in management

– David Godinez of Morgan Hill graduated with a degree in psychology

– James Conrey of San Martin graduated with a degree in electrical engineering

– Rttanjit Sohal of San Martin graducated with a degree in biology

Families of the South Valley students were among more than 12,000 family members and friends who cheered nearly 1,000 undergraduates.

Rachel Hunter

This fall, Rachel Hunter of Morgan Hill enrolled at Lipscomb University in Tennessee. She will be among 698 new students and transfers, making fall 2007 a record-setting year for Lipscomb with more than 2,700 students.

Rachel’s major is pre-nursing.

Andrew Whitaker

Mount Madonna School is pleased to announce that senior Andrew Whitaker of Aptos has been named a Semifinalist in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC). Andrew is among 16,000 of the highest-scoring seniors of the 50,000 students who qualified for the program. Recognition in this program is a marker of exceptional academic promise.

In February 2008, approximately 15,000 of the Semifinalists receive notification that they are advancing to Finalist standing, and of this group, some 8,000 are ultimately awarded Merit Scholarships.  

High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)-a test which serves as an initial screen of entrants each year-and by meeting published program entry requirements. Approximately 1.4 million students nationwide entered the current competition.

Jonathan Roorda

Jonathan Roorda, a 2006 Gilroy High School graduate, completed Naval Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Illinois on Aug. 3. He graduated at the rank of E3, a member of Division 246 which received numerous honors including being named to the Hall of Fame. Jonathan is now stationed at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, South Carolina for 18 months. At the completion of his training, Jonathan will serve as a Nuclear Power Electricians Mate. Jonathan has requested submarine duty on the West Coast.

Jonathan’s parents are Monica and Bill Roorda of Gilroy. He also has two sisters, Briana and Darby, a senior and freshman at Gilroy High School. Jonathan has requested that anyone interested in contacting him do so at: [email protected].

ENGAGEMENTS

Spehar/Kievlan

Pam and Bruce Spehar of Boulder Creek announce the engagement of their daughter Jeri Roselyn Spehar to George Kievlan III, son of Patricia Branhorst of Morgan Hill and Joanne and George Kievlan II of Morgan Hill.

Jeri graduated from San Lorenzo Valley High School and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. She is finishing her undergraduate studies at Cabrillo College in Aptos and will be transferring to San Jose State this spring.

George is a journeyman heavy equipment operator and plans to go into business for himself.

The wedding is planned for September 2009.