SPRING GRADS
The following students graduated from their respective colleges and universities: Leela Julianna Miller of Encinitas from Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio; Rebecca Jocelyn Garcia Soriano of Escondido from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania; Joann Wyse of San Marcos from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Daniel Renfield of San Diego, Bonnie May of Oceanside and Sierra Lippert of Encinitas from Miami University in Ohio; Quinn Watson of Del Mar and Ariana Chadha, Maddie Ford, Justin Wang and Maddie Yu of San Diego from Tufts University in Massachusetts; Isaiah Fuson, Walker Matthews, Sabrina Ruediger and Sheridan Valente of Carlsbad from Pacific University in Oregon; and Timothy Deering of Carlsbad, Susana Rios of Vista, Lindsey Bumgardner of San Diego, and Rodney Stahler, Maria Sanchez Mestizo, David Bartholet, Russell Stevenson, Missty Stahler, Michael Brenner, Audrie Lopez, Ricardo Luna, Rachel DeLaGarza, Frederick Bradley, Christina Webster, Victoria Flores and Andrew Harkins of Oceanside from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
DEAN’S LIST
The following students made the dean’s list at their respective colleges and universities: Binglin Wu of Carlsbad and Ariana Welsbie of Rancho Santa Fe at Washington University in St. Louis; Kelsi Mikayla Otto of San Diego at Linfield University in Oregon; Cristiane Gilligan of Carlsbad at the State University of New York at Delhi; and Lillian G. Mahoney of Carlsbad at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
MONTHLY CHAMPIONS
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear named siblings Michael and Elizabeth Christensen as her May Champions of the Month, and Cathy Ives as her June Champion of the Month. The senator’s program recognizes individuals, organizations or businesses in State Senate District 38 who contribute to the community. The Christensen siblings developed “Striving Together, a plan that enables 10 campuses in the San Dieguito Union High School District to participate in student-led community service projects, meanwhile Ives is the co-founder of Don’t Trash Mission Beach.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
San Marcos native Morod Shah was appointed to director of athletics for Cal State San Marcos after previously serving as interim director.
FIRE RAISER
The Oceanside Museum of Art has selected Los Angeles-based multimedia artist Rupinder Kaloti for a prestigious solo exhibition for her piece, “Fire Raiser,” in the juried exhibition “More Disruption: Representational Art in Flux” on display now at the museum. Kaloti primarily works with oil paint to create traditional and 3D works fusing elements from her Indian heritage and American upbringing.
PANDA PAIR
The public will get a chance to see giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao for the first time on Aug. 8 at the San Diego Zoo. The pandas arrived from China earlier this summer as the first pandas to enter the United States in 21 years.
SUN COUNTRY
Carlsbad-based general contractor Sun Country Builders is celebrating 45 years in business, having completed properties ranging in size from compact seven-home communities to 300-unit complexes throughout San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties since President John Ahlswede founded the company in July 1979.
TOP VOLUNTEER
The San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Office has named Judith Moerschell as its 2024 Volunteer of the Year. She has officiated more than 100 weddings since February 2023 when she began volunteering at ARCC.
TAX COMMITTEE
San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Jordan Z. Marks has been appointed to serve on the California State Controller’s Committee on County Tax Collecting Procedures.
GOOD CHARITY
The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation in Encinitas has earned a three-star rating from Charity Navigator, which designates the nonprofit as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating the organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria.
NEW ART GALLERY
Artist Stephanie Bell has opened Session Art, a new, contemporary art gallery in Encinitas featuring art forum talks and interactive workshops in addition to a commitment to bringing high caliber art and culture to the San Diego region reminiscent of the art scenes in New York, London and Los Angeles.
CHIEF DEPUTY
The San Diego ARCC Office has hired Alejandra Larios as chief deputy of people and customer experience strategies.
VIKING PRINCESS
Oceanside author James Howcroft has released his new, historical fiction novel, “Viking Princess: Conqueror of Castile: A True Story Based on a Viking Saga,” through Dorrance Publishing Co.
DIVISION CHIEF
Robert Gomez, San Diego County ARCC division chief for assessment services, has been elected to serve as president of the California Assessors’ Administrative Services Association for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.
