Irvine Soroptimist Chapter Names 5 for ‘Women of Distinction’ Awards

The Irvine chapter of Soroptimist International has selected five Irvine residents to receive its “Women of Distinction” awards given to honor women who have made outstanding contributions through their professional, business or volunteer activities.

The recipients were Susan Stahl, in the health category, for her work with the Irvine Childrens Fund; Diane Kent, in the environment category, for her work with the Irvine Community Services Commission, and Bobbie Mahler, in education, for her work with Irvine schools; Evelyn Huebner, in human rights, for her dedication to Irvine Temporary Housing and the Orange County Rescue Mission, and Ann Plummer, for economic and social development, for hospice counseling and senior services.

Wilbur (Bill) H. Campbell, born and raised in Santa Ana and son of Vivian Campbell of Santa Ana, was named winner of the Michigan Technological University’s Research Award that is presented periodically to faculty members. Campbell, who has written and co-authored more than 50 articles in professional journals, was graduated from what is now Rancho Santiago College before studying at Pomona College and the University of Wisconsin.

Linda Sohl-Donnell, a jazz, modern dance, tap, improvisation and advanced contemporary styles instructor at Orange Coast College since 1980, has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Choreographic Fellowship valued at $7,000.

Sohl-Donnell, who holds a master’s degree in choreography from UCLA, said she plans to use the grant to create new choreography for the Los Angeles-based Rhapsody in Taps dance company. She is the group’s artistic director.

The prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City has awarded a full scholarship to Catherine Baker, 16, a Fountain Valley High School junior. The grant includes tuition, travel, and educational and living expenses. It is valued at about $7,000.

Catherine has studied ballet at the Orange County Dance Center in Huntington Beach for the past 5 years and is a member of Fountain Valley High’s advanced dance team, where she studied choreography and performed in a variety of jazz and ballet productions. She also has performed in “The Nutcracker” with the Long Beach Ballet Assn. and danced in Opera Pacific’s production of “Aida” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The Anaheim Public Utilities Department received its second consecutive Award of Merit for its annual report from the American Public Power Assn. Winners are selected on the basis of written test, design, photography, clarity of financial data, imaginative layout, printing, ingenuity and organization.

Three members of the Orange County district attorney’s office, all recently named state or national winners for their achievements, will be honored at a luncheon today with Dist. Atty. Cecil Hicks.

The honorees are Deputy Dist. Atty. John Conley of San Juan Capistrano, who has been named Prosecutor of the Year by the California District Attorney’s Assn.; Dist. Atty. Investigator Jay Newell of Yorba Linda, named Investigator of the Year by the California District Attorney Investigators Assn., and Edna Sage of Orange, staff development specialist who received the 1988 Outstanding Individual Achievement Award from the National Child Enforcement Assn.

Saddleback High School senior Erich Buerger of Santa Ana, will be one of 5 California high school students chosen to make a presentation today at the California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles. He will present his summer studies’ findings on “How to Make Holograms With Infrared Lasers.”

Carol Weddle, founder of the Brea affiliate of the Boys and Girls Club, was given a Medallion Award that was inscribed with the words, “For unusually devoted service to youth.” The Brea resident received his award at a black-tie dinner dance.

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