FALL GRAD
Jordan Schommer of Oceanside graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
DEAN’S LIST
The following college students were named to the dean’s list at their respective college and universities: Cassandra Rivera of Visa at Chadron State College in Nebraska; Emily Groom of San Marcos at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota; and Jett Foreman, Lillian Evans and Kaelen Frye of Carlsbad, Ella Greupner of Encinitas, Anna Hatala of San Marcos, Cristina Milne of Solana Beach, Siena Bacino, McKenna Leasure and Lauren Littlejohn of San Diego at Belmont University in Nashville.
CAPITOL SCHOLAR
Cassidy Matwiyoff of San Diego is one of nine University of Alabama students selected for the 2025 class of Capitol Scholars, a program that provides outstanding UA students who are interested in careers in or around the federal government with an immersive summer internship experience in Washington D.C.
MENTAL HEALTH
Babson College (Mass.) tennis player Sarai Dorismond, 18, of Carlsbad created and organized MindSet, a doubles tennis tournament for a field of 32 players with 16 double teams at Balboa Tennis Club in San Diego on Dec. 29. All proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI).
TOP EMPLOYEE
Blanca Rojas, a College and Career Technician at Escondido Adult School, was named the California Council for Adult Education Southern Section Classified Employee of the Year.
CARDIFF SCHOOLS
Cardiff School District swore in new Board of Education Trustee Richard Brocchini and re-elected President Rhea Steward on Dec. 16.
BEST OF SHOW
Artist Ed Kessler won Best of Show with his photo, “Santa Barbara Pier,” in the Escondido Art Association’s “Winter Wonderland” exhibition.
CARDS FOR A CAUSE
The La Costa 35 Athletic Club, a local nonprofit organization, hosted its 13th Annual Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament in early November. More than $43,000 in net proceeds were raised for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad. Dalton Thompson won the Winner Bracelet and selected a stay in Napili Point on Maui as his prize, and Evan Jones was the runner-up and won a stay at Grand Pacific Resorts.
PARKING MOBILE PAY
Oceanside has introduced mobile parking payment options at two public lots: the SALT building lot at 371 N. Cleveland St. near Civic Center Drive, also known as PS23, and Lot 30 on The Strand, commonly known as Betty’s Lot. The lots will continue to accept cash and credit cards as well.
