Soto selected for Achievement Academy
Jaclyn Danielle Soto, of Hollister, has been recognized by the
United States Achievement Academy as a student of excellence in
fine arts.
The prestigious honor is attained by very few students,
according to a press release from the United States Achievement
Academy, with fewer than 10 percent of American high school
students being selected.
Soto selected for Achievement Academy
Jaclyn Danielle Soto, of Hollister, has been recognized by the United States Achievement Academy as a student of excellence in fine arts.
The prestigious honor is attained by very few students, according to a press release from the United States Achievement Academy, with fewer than 10 percent of American high school students being selected.
Soto attends San Benito High School and was nominated by her teacher Heather Smith. Soto’s name will appear in the United States Achievement Academy’s Official Yearbook, which is published nationally.
“Recognizing and supporting our youth is more important than ever before in America’s history,” said George Stevens, the founder of USAA. “Certainly, United States Achievement Academy students should be congratulated and appreciated for their dedication to excellence and achievement.”
The Academy recognizes students upon the exclusive recommendation of teachers, coaches, counselors and other qualified sponsors and upon the standards for selection set forth by the Academy. The standards include academic performance, interest, and aptitude, leadership qualities, responsibility, enthusiasm, motivation to learn and improve, attitude and cooperative spirit, dependability and recommendation from a qualified sponsor.
Soto is the daughter of Mike and Beatrice Soto, of Hollister, and granddaughter of Isidro and Hope Beltran, of Hollister and Juana Soto, of Salinas.
Hospital foundation raises $500K for ER
Members of Hazel Hawkins Hospitals Foundation Board of Trustees are celebrating because after nearly three years – and 1,236 donations – they’ve met their goal of raising $500,000 to help equip Hazel Hawkins’ emergency room.
“Members of the community, local businesses, physicians and many HHH employees were very generous in their support of this effort,” says Milo Medriano, co-chair of the foundation’s fundraising committee.
The foundation board voted April 8 to use the $500,000 they raised to purchase trauma bay booms and lights ($126,000), and patient monitors for each of the 15 exam rooms ($309,000). Six specialized gurneys and stretchers will also be purchased ($50,000) by the foundation to help ER staff care for patients from the moment they enter the ER.
“With the ER opening soon, the monitors, booms and lights will be ordered and installed immediately,” said Foundation President Mary Damm.
Hospital Foundation Board members were treated to a tour of the ER construction site last week.
“We feel like we’re part of history, and I hope each and every donor to the campaign for the new ER feels the same way! Everyone in the community who made a donation or pledge, bought tickets to or sponsored our dinner dance, or took advantage of an opportunity to name a room in the new facility helped us reach our goal! We are very, very grateful to everyone who participated in the Campaign!”
This summer, the Hospital Foundation will hold a special “donors-only” ER opening event to thank those who supported this fundraising effort with a donation of $100 or more.
Library honored with proclamations
During National Library Week, April 11 – 17, the San Benito County Free Library was honored with proclamations from the City of Hollister, San Benito County and the San Benito County Office of Education.
The week included events at the library, such as a conversation club, a lecture by local authors and a visit by the bookmobile to Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA on Saturday.
Librarian Nora Conte said all the proclamations were meaningful, but the one received from the San Benito County superintendent of schools had a personal touch.
In it, Mike Sanchez, the superintendent, wrote, “On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, a new chapter of the Bookmobile story began to unfold in San Benito County. As I reflected upon this event and how our new Bookmobile was joining the over 930 Bookmobiles throughout our nation, I remember what a Bookmobile meant to a 10-year-old boy when family and cultural resources were in abundance, but material resources were not.”
He wrote in the proclamation about his first experience when a bookmobile arrived at his elementary school.
“One morning, I had an amazing experience; a unique vehicle was parked outside my elementary school,” he wrote. “Climbing up the stairs and going inside was incredible for me – it took my breath away. There was a person who told me about how the Bookmobile worked – my parents could sign me up for a library card and then I could check out any two books I wanted!”
The local bookmobile has driven 3,000 miles in San Benito County since it debuted last summer. More than 1,000 new and renewed library cards have been issued to children and adults. The bookmobile has 2,700 academic and leisure multi-media offerings.
The proclamations can be seen at the library, 470 Fifth St.
