NEIGHBORS

Casey Michael Dignan, 26, of Costa Mesa, recently received his master’s

degree in counseling at Cal State Fullerton. Dignan, a counselor at New

Alternatives Group Home, is the son of Jack and Debbie Dignan, of Costa

Mesa. Dignan attended St. Michael’s College Prep High School in El Toro.

... Robert Williams of Newport Beach has won a one-year Rotary

Ambassadorial Scholarship to study in New Zealand. Williams, who

graduated from USC this year with a major in international relations,

plans to enroll in a joint master’s program in political science and

international law at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Williams,

who graduated from Corona del Mar High School in 1998, is the son of

Melinda Williams of Newport Beach. ... Kent Freundt, president of Newport

Beach-based The Producers Group, has won the 2000 Transamerica Agency

Award. Freundt was awarded $1,000 for his favorite charity, the Southern

Methodist University Annual Fund. Two of Freundt’s six children attended

SMU. ... Don R. Soucie, a 23-year veteran of the trust and investment

management industry, has been promoted to senior vice president at Sanwa

Bank California. Soucie, who joined Sanwa in 1992 as a manager of its

Newport Beach office, will be in charge of the personal financial

services/trust department.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please direct

noteworthy information to Claudia Figueroa via fax at (949) 646-4170, or

send e-mail too7 claudia.figueroa@latimes.comf7 .