Fred Oelkers, who served more than...

Fred Oelkers, who served more than 47 years at Orange Coast

College in various positions, mainly as college mechanic, will

receive an honorary associates of arts degree during the college’s

commencement on Thursday. Oelkers’ employment at OCC has made him the

longest tenured employee in the college’s history. While a student

athlete at OCC, Oelkers was the Eastern Conference wrestling champion

at 132 pounds during the 1957-58 season ... Jia G. Lu, an assistant

professor of chemical engineering and materials science and

electrical engineering and computer science at UC Irvine, was

recently honored with a 2002 Presidential Early Career Award for

Scientists and Engineers by President Bush for her advanced research

in spin electronics ... Kathy Leek recently joined Newport

Beach-based Spa Gregories as its director of public relations ...

Randy Schoch’s Thaifoon-Taste of Asia restaurant in Fashion Island

was recently honored by Nation’s Restaurant News as a 2004 Hot

Concepts winner ... Kimberly Hanley of Costa Mesa and a student at

Newport Harbor High School recently won a $500 scholarship as part of

Bank of America’s 2004 Achievement Awards ... Bridget C. McCoy of

Balboa Island, Jennifer M. Bartlau, Megan C. Meachim, Flavia Ruzi and

Thomas W. Sanborn of Corona del Mar were recently named to Orange

Coast College’s president’s list for maintaining a 4.0 GPA during the

2003 fall semester.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please

direct noteworthy information to Luis Pena by fax at (949) 646-4170,

or send e-mail to luis.pena@latimes.com.