Daniel Vargas, 18, a Burbank resident, received...

Daniel Vargas, 18, a Burbank resident, received the Best All Around

New Talent award at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.

Vargas recently graduated from the arts school after attending for

two years. He received this recognition for his dedicated and

outstanding achievement in vocal music. He sings, composes music,

plays various instruments and plans to pursue a career in music.

Darrin Borders, a native of Burbank, received his master’s degree

in public administration with honors in June.

He has been employed by the Burbank Public Library for more than

20 years. Also in June, he graduated from the Leadership Burbank

Program.

He graduated from Burbank High in 1984 and earned his associate’s

degree at Pierce College then went on to obtain his bachelor of

science from the University of Phoenix.

Two Burbank students recently competed in the International Future

Problem Solvers Convention at the University of Kentucky, in

Lexington, Ky.

Liz Seward, who attends John Burroughs High School, placed fourth

in the Senior Individual competition. Adam Colman, a student at

Luther Burbank Middle School, placed seventh in the Junior Individual

competition.

Jasmine Taylor Samperio graduated from the UC San Francisco with a

master of science degree in physical therapy. Samperio is a 1999

graduate of John Burroughs High School. She is the daughter of Marta

Carroll of Burbank and Charles Taylor of Valencia.

Matthew Brooks, son of Dana and Greg Brooks of Burbank and

grandson of Cynthia and Bob Carli of Glendale, recently became a

member in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

The society, the only national honors organization for first- and

second-year college students, extended membership to Matthew Brooks

based upon his freshman year academic achievements at Arizona State

University. Brooks made the dean’s list both semesters of his

freshman year and received the School of Justice & Social Inquiry

Award for contributions to social justice. Brooks is a sophomore,

majoring in communications at Arizona State.

Stella Arbelaez-Brown has joined the Burbank Community YMCA as the

new director of child care services. Arbelaez-Brown has a bachelor’s

degree in fine art in fine arts illustration.

In August of 2004, she received a special commendation by the

Mayor of the City of Burbank in recognition of her vision in

benefiting young children in our city.

She is enrolled in the Advance Core Certificate Program in Early

Childhood Education at UCLA and hopes to pursue her master’s degree

in the near future.