U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael D. Starkovich, the son of Chris and Karen Starkovich of Blaine, was recently honored for meritorious service as a patrolman with the 86th Security Forces Squadron, 86th Mission Support Group, 86th Air Wing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Mike graduated from Blaine High School in 2006. He ran cross country and played on the basketball team all through high school.
He comes from a family of servicemen, with his grandfather also having served in the Air Force. His two great-grandfathers served during WWII, one a Marine and one in the Navy.
Among Mike's accomplishments cited in the commendation were his actions while deployed to Bagram Airfield, in Afghanistan. He was key in identifying four people trying to gain access to the base. His commander said his actions and attention to detail directly contributed to saving the base from a major ground attack.
HIGH SCHOOL RIDER WINS AWARDS
Sierra Bishop, a 15-year-old sophomore at Bellingham High School, with her horse, Frankie, recently won a regional title for working cow horse with Northwest regional and national Reined Cow Horse associations. She qualified to enter the world show in San Angelo, Texas, in January 2012. Depending on how well she does at that show, Sage Bishop says, Sierra may win a national title. She is currently leading the nation in her youth bridle class.
Sierra trains with Allison Trimble at Coastal Equine.
STUDENT'S WORK WILL ADD TO BOOK ON REAGAN
A Bellingham woman's hours of work in the archives at Eureka College in Eureka, Ill., has resulted in new information about Ronald Reagan's college days that will be included in a new book about his Illinois years, according to a press release from the school.
Lauren Carlsen, a sophomore, is a student assistant at the Ronald Reagan Museum and a student assistant researcher at the college archives. She discovered information that surprised college officials and will be included in Peter Hannaford's book "Reagan's Roots," to be unveiled in a book tour in central Illinois in early December.
Carlsen found much of the information as she examined every copy of the Pegasus student newspaper from 1928 to 1932, the years Reagan attended the school.
"It was surprising to read that when Reagan and Margaret Cleaver became engaged, Reagan bought 5 pounds of Fannie May chocolates for Margaret's sorority sisters," Carlsen said. "Reagan was by no means a rich man, so for him to buy that much chocolate was very interesting."
Lauren spends about 10 hours a week in her student assistant role, which includes leading tours of the Reagan Museum. She is the daughter of Lance Carlsen of Bellingham and Kristin Carlsen of Bellevue, and a 2010 graduate of Squalicum High School. She is majoring in music with teacher certification.
ALCOA HONORED BY FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS
Alcoa of Washington received the 2011 Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Washington Chapter, according to a press release from Whatcom Community Foundation.
"We are thrilled to be this year's award recipient and take great pride in fulfilling our role as a generous and caring corporate citizen and neighbor," said Barry Hullett, Alcoa Intalco Works plant manager. "This tribute is a testament to the company's strong culture of giving, whether through volunteer hours, employee contributions, corporate gifts or foundation grants. It's such a pleasure to extend a hand and help out."
In the last five years, Alcoa of Washington has distributed $1.4 million in grants to organizations as diverse as Boys & Girls Clubs, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee. In the last year, an estimated 75 Ferndale and Wenatchee employees provided 3,750 volunteer hours, or almost 94 weeks' worth of work, and leveraged $18,750 in matching corporate foundation donations. Company employees gave their time, expertise and talents to build community gardens, minister to the sick, restore miles of streamside habitat, provide meals and shelter for the homeless, and teach adults to read.
