“FYI: For Your Information,” New Era, Apr. 1985, 40
FYI:
For Your Information
Smart and Strong
Darren Alexander Haws of Apache Junction, Arizona, is a well-rounded young man in sports as well as in the classroom. He graduated salutatorian of his class, took four years of early-morning seminary and a full academic load, and was on the varsity teams in tennis and wrestling. He was state champion in tennis his senior year. He has received numerous honors for his abilities as a wrestler.
Darren served as student-body president and was chosen as homecoming king. In academics, he was named outstanding senior and received an award every year of high school for outstanding academic achievement. He received the Presidential Academic Fitness Award and the National Scholar/ Athlete Award.
He has been appointed to the United States Air Force Academy and plans to serve his mission during the “stop out” program, which allows cadets to take leave from the academy for a worthwhile purpose.
Darren is first assistant to the president of his priests quorum and has played the piano or directed the music in priesthood meetings since he was 12. Darren is in the Mesa 26th Ward, Mesa Arizona Salt River Stake.
Outstanding Senior
Carol Livingston, senior class president, delivered the farewell speech to her fellow classmates during graduation exercises. This was the culmination of many outstanding achievements by Carol during her high school years.
Carol also served as freshman class student council representative, sophomore class president, and junior class representative, in addition to senior class president. She was a member of Kiwanis Key Club and National Honor Society and made the honor roll all four years. In addition to her studies, Carol likes to be active. She was a member of the drill team and a starter on the varsity volleyball team.
In Church, Carol was a four-year graduate of early-morning seminary and served as president of her Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel classes as well as serving several times as a counselor.
Carol is a member of the Craig First Ward, Meeker Colorado Stake.
Early Riser
Every morning during the school year, John Dougall, Jr., gets up early. And his persistence has paid off. He graduated from early-morning seminary with a perfect attendance record for four years.
In addition to his perfect attendance, John was recognized as a master scriptorian. To attain this award, John read all four standard works, located 160 scriptures, and memorized 100 of them.
John is an outstanding student as well and is a member of National Honor Society. He has also earned his Eagle Scout badge.
John is a member of the Raleigh Hills Ward, Beaverton Oregon Stake.
Makes Five
Alan Dutson, a deacon in the Iona Third Ward, Iona Idaho Stake, finished a family tradition. He received his Eagle Scout badge, following in the footsteps of his older brothers Rodney, Brent, Larry, and Joe.
Alan also received his On My Honor Award. In school he is on the honor roll and a member of the National Honor Society and the Miler Club, a club for academic honor students. He has served as counselor and president in his deacons quorum.
Brothers Joe and Larry are also on the honor roll and members of the Miler Club. Each has served as his respective quorum president and is an ace at playing chess and checkers, having earned awards in Varsity and Explorer Olympics for both.
Knows History
Daniel C. Baker of Republic, Washington, was named to the United States Achievement Academy for his high rating in history and government. Besides being an excellent student, Dan enjoys singing. He sings with his junior high school chorus and also performed a duet with his older sister in the community choir Easter cantata.
Dan is a deacon in the Republic Branch of the Colville Washington Stake.
Regional Winners
The Gonzales Ward, Baton Rouge Louisiana Stake, has won top spot in the regional basketball tournament for the second consecutive year. Every member of the team is a member of the Church. Team members are: bottom row, left to right, Heather Hyatt, Karen Bradley, Celina de los Santos, Ashley Nickens, Renee Stelly, Jill Richardson; middle row, Valerie Richardson, Toni Sharkey, Donna Tanner, Michelle Hyatt, Tiffanie Burns; top row, Shanon Kinchen, Kennon Tullos, Susan Bradley, Michelle Causey, Vickie Richardson, Kim Guerrero, and Coach Kay Price.
Perfect Attendance
Caryn Dale Hansen was honored by the Palm Springs Region for four years of perfect attendance at early-morning seminary. Caryn attributes her success to good health and a commitment to learning about the gospel. She was a member of the winning scripture chase team for the past three years.
Caryn is a member of the Sunnymead Ward, Riverside California Stake.
Budding Artist
Maria Lynn Barney from Zillah, Washington, graduated from high school with honors. She was a member of the National Honor Society, editor of the yearbook, and three-year member of Future Farmers of America. Maria also graduated from seminary.
She lettered three years in basketball and was a four-year letter winner in track. She went to state three times in the 1,600-meter run.
Maria is studying commercial art and recently won a logo-designing contest. She belongs to the Toppenish Ward, Yakima Washington Stake.
Three Missionaries
The Smyth family of Londonderry, Ireland, may have set a new record. As far as they have been able to determine, they are the first family in Ireland to have three sons serve missions for the Church. All three served their missions in California.
David Smyth served in the California Oakland Mission. Stephen followed his brother and also served in the California Oakland Mission. Lloyd is presently serving in the California Anaheim Mission.
All three young men are outstanding athletes and have won both school and national honors for their abilities.
Brothers Succeed
David Jenkins from Liberty, Missouri, took the first-place medal in class 1 at the United States Gymnastics Federation—Missouri Boys’ State Meet held in Columbia. He is a priest in the Liberty Ward, Liberty Missouri Stake.
Michael, David’s younger brother, took second place in class 3 at the same meet. He is a teacher in the Liberty Ward.
Double Quartet
When eight young men from the Gunnison Utah Stake were asked to sing a special number for a stake meeting, something was started. The song was successful, and the boys continued to rehearse together under the direction of Sister Elmont. She was their accompanist and prepared special arrangements of music for their performances.
The double quartet sang in sacrament meetings and in other church activities. They sang at the dedication of a new seminary building in Gunnison and at youth conferences. They were also invited to perform at the state PTA convention for an audience of two thousand. They received superior ratings in region and state music competitions.
Now the double quartet has broken up. All eight are serving missions in areas around the world: Scotland, Japan, Minnesota, Argentina, Peru, and Guatemala.
Outstanding Scholar
Lee Singleton of the Marion Branch, Kingsport Tennessee Stake, has earned much recognition for his scholastic achievements. He was valedictorian of his graduating class, had four years perfect attendance at high school, is a National Merit Scholar, and has earned the Presidential Academic Fitness Award. He received scholarship offers in engineering from two prestigious universities.
Lee was also a member of the championship scripture chase team for his stake. He accepted a scholarship for his freshman year, after which he plans to go on a mission.
North to Alaska
Members of the Ramsey family are high achievers in their schools and active in Church assignments. Peter Ramsey, 15, was elected student-body president of his school in the Eskimo village of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. His sister Sarah, 13, will serve as student-body secretary. Peter is a teacher and enjoys sports, including swimming, baseball, and hunting caribou for the family food supply.
Sarah is a Beehive and enjoys ice skating, cross-country skiing, music, and collecting stickers. The Ramsey family lives in the Fairbanks Bush Branch and holds church meetings in their home.
Christopher Ramsey, 17, was recently inducted into the National Honor Society. He attends high school and seminary in North Pole, Alaska. He is a member of the basketball team and enjoys swimming, hunting, and reading. Christopher lives with another LDS family while he finishes his schooling and spends vacations in the Eskimo village with his parents and brother and sisters. Chris is a priest in the North Pole Ward, Fairbanks Alaska Stake.
Lone Scouts
Steve Hammond, 14, of King Salmon, Alaska, is an Eagle Scout, but he didn’t have a troop to help him reach his goal. Steve was following in the footsteps of his 16-year-old brother, David. Both boys earned their Eagle badges as Lone Scouts.
Their father became a registered Scoutmaster so he could supervise their work. He wanted his sons to do their work the right way. He says, “I was probably tougher on them than another Scoutmaster would have been.”
Steve had a wonderful time earning his fishing merit badge. He hooked a 36-pound king salmon.
Steve and David made something of a competition out of earning merit badges. They received their awards together in a special court of honor. As an Eagle project, Steve and David took on the restoration of a nearby Russian Orthodox church cemetery.
Steve and David are in the King Salmon Branch, Alaska Anchorage Mission.
Master Scriptorians
Eight seminary students in the Oregon City Oregon Stake achieved a master scriptorian rating. This award is available to seminary students in their final year of seminary. It is achieved by reading all four standard works during their years in seminary, locating 160 designated scriptures, and memorizing 100 of those scriptures and quoting them to a member of the stake presidency.
Those working toward the master scriptorian award met together several times during the year at the home of one of the early-morning seminary teachers to learn memorization techniques, discuss scriptural meaning, and lend support to each other.
In addition to the 8 master scriptorians, 38 students earned the scriptorian award, achieved by reading assigned portions of the Old Testament, locating 40 scriptures, and memorizing 25 of them. Twenty-five students earned the associate scriptorian award, which required memorizing 15 scriptures.
Those earning the master scriptorian award are Lisa Harwood, Lisa Boice, Stephanie Craven, Jenny Rhodes, Lorinda Mallonee, Andra Gordon, Sandy Session, and Huck Dilg.
Festival Winner
Ryan Pugh of Lynden, Washington, won the title of Mr. Ski to Sea in the annual Whatcom County Ski to Sea Festival. The title comes with a $1,000 award. Ryan also took first in the categories of talent, private interview, and social skills.
Ryan shares responsibilities with Miss Ski to Sea, and the two of them will attend 19 community parades in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.
Earlier Ryan won a $1,200 prize in a chess tournament. He also finished all 119 merit badges in Scouting before his 18th birthday.
Ryan is a member of the Ferndale Second Ward in the Bellingham Washington Stake.
“Understanding is a two-way street.”
—Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
Makes Five: (left to right) Rodney, Brent, Larry, Joe and Alan.
David Jenkins; Michael Jenkins
Double Quartet: (back row, left to right) Garth Sorenson, Brett Elmont, Sister Claire Elmont, Jed Dyreng, Kenneth Nielsen; (front row, left to right) Kay C. Caldwell, David Warren, Kerry Brown, Mark Elmont.
Christopher Ramsey; Peter Ramsey; Sarah Ramsey
Oregon City Stake Master Scriptorians: (left to right) Lisa Harwood, Lisa Boice, Stephanie Craven, Jenny Rhodes, Lorinda Mallonee, Andra Gordon, Sandy Session. (Not pictured is Huck Dilg.)