People : Spotlight on achievers

Walter Lawson

High school counselor, Laguna Beach

The California School Counselor Assn. chose Laguna Beach High’s Lawson to receive the Anne Upton Memorial Foundation Counselor of the Year Award.

Lawson was honored partly for helping seniors document what they did in high school as part of their college preparation and career development assignments. Seniors compile a guidance portfolio that includes a resume on computer disk for job-hunting.

Lawson said he is elated to receive the award. “What we’re trying to do is prepare every kid, when they leave here, to have a career and education plan in place,” he said.

Jacquie Ellis

Irvine Chamber of Commerce

Ellis, the chamber’s executive vice president, is now president-elect of the California Assn. of Chamber of Commerce Executives. She will become president of the state organization in February, 1996.

Ellis is also one of seven chamber of commerce executives in the state awarded accreditation this year by the association.

Bill Sheldon

Rossmoor Community Services District

The International Society of Arboriculture certified Sheldon as an arborist after he passed the group’s examination.

As general manager in Los Alamitos for the Rossmoor Community Services District, Sheldon can now perform the tree trimming and landscaping that only certified arborists are qualified to do.

Beverly Nestande

Community volunteer, Orange

The city of Orange named Nestande its Citizen of the Year for 1994.

Nestande is a 20-year resident of Orange who has volunteered on numerous boards and agencies.

She works as community relations director for Olive Crest, an agency that finds homes for abused children.

Connie Sackett, president of the county’s YWCA, said Nestande “moves quietly through the community always working for the betterment of others.”

Richard Long

Police sergeant, Newport Beach

The California Robbery Investigators Assn. has elected Long as its president for 1995-96. He has served on the group’s board since 1991.

Long is a 19-year veteran of the Newport Beach Police Department.

The association is a professional organization with 2,200 members from law enforcement agencies in Southwestern states.

--COMPILED BY LESLEY WRIGHT, WITH BERT ELJERA, LESLIE EARNEST, RUSS LOAR AND HOLLY J. WAGNER