Clovis People in the News

Clovis residents Suzanne and Shane Hildebrand will travel to Spain and to the Caribbean this year thanks to prizes Suzanne recently won as a contestant on the television show "Wheel of Fortune."

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ACHIEVEMENTS

FAC awards

Buchanan High School junior Yifan Luo was honored at the Fresno Arts Council's 23rd Annual 2008 Horizon Awards April 10 for his significant contributions toward the enrichment of life in the community through excellence in the Arts in the Youth category.

Luo began studying piano in China at the age of 4. He came to the United States when he was 5 years old knowing no English, but learned quickly and skipped the second grade. He is ranked No. 1 at Buchanan with a grade-point average of 4.5. For the past several years, he has studied under the tutelage of Professor Andres Werz at California State University, Fresno.

His past achievements include the following: first place in the Music Teachers Association of California competition at both the junior and intermediate levels; the Philip Lorenz Award in the junior division in the eighth grade and the senior division in the ninth grade; individual first place in forensics and debate teams; first place in the Parliamentary debate; second place for County Champion for the San Joaquin Valley; and first place in the Regional Mathcounts competition in the eighth grade. He currently works as a volunteer floor assistant at Saint Agnes Medical Center and a volunteer for the Fresno County Library.

The other 2008 Horizon Awards winners and categories are Stanley C. Bitters, artist; Peter Everwine, artist; Ronald Eichman of the Fresno Grand Opera, business; Pat Wolk of the Fresno Folklore Society, citizen; Kaye Migaki, Ella Odorfer educator; and Jon Carroll of Fresno Reel Pride, special.

Game show contestant

Suzanne Hildebrand, of Clovis, was a contestant on the April 3 episode of "Wheel of Fortune." Hildebrand was selected from a lottery more than a year ago and underwent two auditions, which included timed tests and mock game shows.

Hildebrand made it to the bonus round and won trips to Spain and the Caribbean, as well as $19,750. She and her husband, Shane, plan to travel to Spain this summer and visit the Caribbean in the winter.

When asked about her experience on the show, Hildebrand said she had a great time and described Pat Sajak and Vanna White as "just as cheerful in real life as they are on TV."

EDUCATION

Clovis teacher honored

Bethany Wielicki, a teacher at the Center for Advanced Research and Technology in Clovis, was chosen as a finalist for the 2008 Cable's Leaders in Learning Awards. The annual awards program recognizes outstanding educators, administrators and other community leaders at the forefront of innovation in education.

Wielicki is being recognized in the General Excellence category for working with students to design their own video games, including a concept document, pitch document and game design document.

Leaders in this category have demonstrated excellence in expanding and enhancing learning opportunities by employing a diversity of traditional and nontraditional approaches to producing measurable improvements in education outcomes in formal or informal settings.

"Students are on the cutting edge of technology, taking part in the billion-dollar game design industry," said Wielicki. "Through the program, they are able to participate in real-world projects and discover their niche."

Details: www.LeadersInLearningawards.org.

Student ambassador

Lauren Means, an eighth-grade student at Alta Sierra Intermediate School, was interviewed and accepted to participate as a member of the People to People Student Ambassador Program in China.

The 17-day leadership program will include meetings with government officials and tours of famous sights such as Tiananmen Square and the Beijing Zoo. Means will also tour the Great Wall of China, view the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an, visit a Buddhist temple in Shanghai and take a boat cruise of the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.

She previously traveled to England and Scotland in 2005 and to Australia and New Zealand in 2006.

Are good things happening to you, your family or your friends? Share your good news and send an item for People to Patti Lippert, The Clovis Independent, P.O. Box 2355, Clovis 93613; e-mail plippert@clovisindepen- dent.com; or fax 447-6740. Items should contain a contact name and phone number (not for publication). Photos are encouraged!