COSTA MESA 2ND-GRADERS CLEAN UP AT SPELLING...

COSTA MESA 2ND-GRADERS CLEAN UP AT SPELLING BEE

Jakey Haar and Michael Reese, second-graders at Mariners Christian

School in Costa Mesa, took first and second place, respectively, in

the Assn. of Christian Schools International’s Southern California

Region District Spelling Bee on Jan. 21 at El Toro Baptist Church in

Lake Forest.

Spelling bee contestants were chosen first through a classroom

competition and then a school-level competition.

The competition lasted 28 rounds, with Haar and Reese competing

until the end. Reese finished with the word “discovered,” and Haar

with “brainstorm.”

LOCAL GIVES KEYNOTE AT ZONTA CONFERENCE

First Team Real Estate agent Suzy Casey was featured as a keynote

speaker at the recent Zonta International Amelia Earhart luncheon.

Casey is a distinguished pilot who completed the 28th annual Air Race

Classic last June in Wichita, Kan.

Zonta International, an organization that focuses on furthering

women’s education, held the luncheon to raise money for student

grants.

UCI DEAN ELECTED TO TOP SPOT IN SCIENCE GROUP

Susan Bryant, dean of the UC Irvine School of Biological Sciences,

has been elected a 2005 Assn. for Women in Science fellow, the

highest recognition the organization bestows on individuals.

Bryant received her doctorate in developmental biology from the

University of London in 1967. In her research career, she has

pioneered the development of molecular techniques for studying

regeneration and has conducted a series of now classic experiments

designed to reveal the underlying logic of limb regeneration. She has

served as program director of the National Science Foundation

Developmental Biology Review Panel.

In 1988, she was also recognized for her contributions to women on

campus by being the first recipient of the Pacesetter Award -- an

award given annually by the Academic and Professional Women of UC

Irvine to recognize efforts to improve the status of women on campus.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please

direct noteworthy information to Lindsay Sandham by fax at (714)

966-4679, or send e-mail to lindsay.sandham@latimes.com.