Tyler Brundage recently accomplished his 11-year...

Tyler Brundage recently accomplished his 11-year goal of becoming

an Eagle Scout, a goal that less than 2% of all scouts ever achieve.

He was recognized for his achievements during a Court of Honor

Ceremony in September. Brundage, who plays water polo at Corona del

Mar High School, completed an extensive Eagle Project at the

Environmental Nature Center, which consisted of reconstructing 70

feet of trail, replacing old railroad ties with rebar to create a

more natural setting and constructing cages for snakes and lizards

that simulate their natural environment .... Army National Guard Pvt.

Gregory A. Jenkins, brother of Carol Berner of Costa Mesa, recently

graduated from basic combat training. Jenkins completed the nine-week

training that included instruction and practice in drill and

ceremony, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, field

tactics, first aid, army and army history, tradition and core values

.... Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Thorin D. Mayba of Costa Mesa

recently completed the first three months of a six-month deployment

to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. Mayba is currently assigned

to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, which is just one of

many carriers deployed around the world in an effort to maintain a

United States presence and provide rapid response in times of crisis

....Washington Mutual recently appointed Scott Kipers, vice president

and senior regional manager, to oversee the operations and sales

activity of 24 branches in South County, including offices in Newport

Beach and Costa Mesa. Kipers began his career with Washington Mutual

as a teller and has worked his way up the corporate ladder over the

last 26 years .... Costa Mesa resident Michele Rans was recently

promoted to area manager in charge of Enterprise Rent-A-Car rental

car offices in Brea, Fullerton, Placentia and Yorba Linda. Formerly

the branch manager for the Buena Park office, Rans will now be

responsible for five rental offices and 23 employees .... Corona del

Mar resident Andrew Stanbridge was recently awarded a Fullbright

Fellowship for the 2002-2003 academic year in Thailand. Stanbridge, a

graduate of Corona del Mar High School and UC Santa Cruz, will work

in the United States Student/Researcher Program as part of a 10-month

grant .... Patricia Gifford, an assistant clinical professor of

medicine at UC Irvine, was recently elected director of the nonprofit

organization More Than Shelter for Seniors by its board of directors.

The organization, which serves as an innovative and educational

wellness program for residents of affordable senior apartment

communities, said it believes that Gifford’s expertise in geriatrics

will be beneficial to new program development.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please

direct noteworthy information to Christine Carrillo via fax at (949)

646-4170, or send e-mail to christine.carrillo@latimes.com.