The Peterson Group of Newport Beach...

The Peterson Group of Newport Beach appointed Amy Inzitari Clem

project manager for the marketing communications agency. Clem, who

received her bachelor’s degree and a marketing certificate from UC

Irvine and is pursuing her master’s degree at Cal State Fullerton,

will be responsible for directing corporate marketing programs

....Sage Hill School in Newport Coast announced that five of its

students received commended student recognition in the 2003 National

Merit Scholarship Program. The five students are Scott Betts, Ron

Chin, Ryan Cohen, Sarah Cowan and April Kim. The students were

selected because of their academic prowess and commitment to their

studies. Commended students are placed among the top 5% of more than

1-million students who enter the competition. Sage Hill School is a

nonprofit independent, nondenominational high school that opened in

the fall of 2000 ....Brooke Nelson, a freshman at Corona del Mar High

School, won the title of Miss Teen Corona del Mar in August. Nelson

then competed in the Miss Teen California pageant and took first

runner-up. She also received awards for academic honors, community

service and talent for her classical piano performance ....Thomas

Butman of Costa Mesa began his first year at Southern Methodist

University this fall. The private university offers a comprehensive

undergraduate program in addition to its graduate and professional

studies ....Taylor & Associates Architects promoted Damon Barda, AIA,

to associate at the Newport Beach-based firm, which specializes in

healthcare architecture and interior design. Barda, a licensed

architect with 15 years of experience involving a broad range of

projects, will be responsible for taking projects from preliminary

design through construction documents. Since joining the firm, Barda

has also taken on project roles with major medical institutions and

continues his participation as a commissioner on the California Board

of Architectural Examiners’ administration of the licensing exams

....Navy Cmdr. John M. Slaughter, son of Donna D. and Charles N.

Slaughter of Newport Beach, has completed three months of his

six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while

assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 15. Slaughter, a 1979

Newport Harbor High graduate, joined the Navy in 1983 after earning

his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. He completed his master’s

degree from the University of Denver in 1992.

* 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.