DEPUTIES HONORED FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY - Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Six sheriff's deputies were honored last week by the Agoura/OakPark/Las Virgenes Chamber of Commerce for their hard work anddedication to the community.

Honorees included Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies MichaelRanes, Stephen Rotella, Patrick Mathers, Lawrence Mohr and KevinPearcy; property custodian Gloria Ferra; and Ventura Countysheriff's Deputy Brian Tiffany.

'They're all excellent employees and a credit to both theSheriff's Department and to the community they serve,' said Capt.Tom Martin of the Lost Hills sheriff's station.

'I like having a positive impact on the area I work in,' saidRotella, one of the honorees. 'I was appreciative that I was gettingrecognized for doing good work in the community.'

The chamber also presented Los Angeles City Councilman DennisZine with an award for 33 years of service to the Los Angeles PoliceDepartment.

Alyssa Netto, a senior at Providence High School in Burbank,attended the prestigious National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicineat UCLA.

Netto belongs to the high school's Health Careers Focus Program,which prepares teens for a career in health care.

'Alyssa is an enthusiastic and highly motivated student,' saidArjan Harjani, director of the HCFP. 'She is really passionate abouther future career.'

Karina Pikhart of Granada Hills attended the Global Young LeadersConference in Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Pikhart was among 350 scholars worldwide selected to attend theconference, in which they learned different ways of dealing withcurrent cultural and political issues.

The Canoga Park Elks Emblem Club No. 360 presented a $1,000scholarship to Jennifer Marriot, a graduate of El Camino Real HighSchool in Woodland Hills.

Jennifer plans to attend Cal Polytechnic San Luis Obispo in thefall.

The Foothill Civitan Club of Burbank presented $500 scholarshipsto Kelsey Browne of Burbank High School and Diana Diaz of JohnBurroughs High School in Burbank.

Rebecca Wetzel, a junior at Louisville High School in WoodlandHills, was selected by the Foundation of the State Bar of Californiato participate in a weeklong Legal Heritage Institute, a legalliteracy summer camp for students.

She entered a statewide essay competition titled 'My Rights andResponsibilities Under the Law' with an essay on the importance ofan independent judiciary.

Accounting students Alexandria Say of Northridge and Debbie Yimof Encino received scholarships from the California Society of CPAs.

Say, who attends California State University, Northridge,received $2,500 from the group's Los Angeles chapter and Yim, whoattends the University of California at Berkeley, received $1,200from its East Bay chapter.

Northridge resident Amanda Tang was among three SouthernCalifornia students to explore various career options during theNational Student Leadership Conference. The teens visited the LosAngeles County/USC and Centinela medical centers.