Albert J. Hamilton Post No. 7 of The American Legion, in Bellingham, announced its new officers: Rick Sucee, commander; Chip Ethier, vice commander; Jerry Eis, finance officer; Dan Burns, historian; Ben Barker, chaplain; Ed Gulliksen, sergeant-at-arms; Paul Wentland, service officer; Dan Earley, first color bearer; Lyle Leavitt, second color bearer; and Craig Convery, Ron Miller and John Anderson, trustees.
Officers of Post 7 of The American Legion Auxiliary are: Karen Gulliksen, president; Hope Hanson, first vice president; Bonnie Finlayson, second vice president; Elaine Isakson, secretary; Breta Brown, treasurer; Paula Carmichael, historian; Donna Barker, chaplain; Clara Wopat, sergeant-at-arms; and Carolyn Clapp and Jackie Isakson, trustees.
Officers of Post 7 of the Sons of The American Legion Squadron are: Bobby Hoffer, commander; Chip Ethier, first vice commander; Jeff Vanderpol, second vice commander; John Lowman, adjutant; Chris Moran, chaplain; Martin Ritchie, historian; Jeff Vanderpol, finance officer; and Dale Tweddle, sergeant-at-arms.
Officers of Post 7 of The American Legion Riders are: Erika Moran, director; Billy Wise, assistant director; Dale Rauch, chaplain; Jim "Wally" Wallace, treasurer; Chris Moran, sergeant-at-arms; Kenda Bjerkness, secretary; Paula Carmichael, historian; and Dale Rauch, road captain.
OTHER HONORS
• Soprano Daniella Smith of Bellingham attended Washington National Opera's Opera Institute at American University, a competitive, pre-professional training program in the vocal arts. Smith, a senior at Bellingham High School, was chosen out of hundreds of teenagers from across the U.S. and abroad to receive one of 28 positions in the three-week program.
Highlights include master classes with acclaimed artists, daily private voice instruction, and courses intended to develop skills as future artists. The institute was to conclude July 14 with students performing at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, an event streamed live on the center's website.
• U.S. Air Force Airman Matthew Carpenter graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. A 2006 graduate of Squalicum High School, he is the son of Ronald Carpenter.
• Two Whatcom County students - Brady Bomber, a Lynden senior accounting major, and Hana Cahill, a Bellingham sophomore studying English - were named to the spring-semester Dean's List at Saint Martin's University, in Lacey.
Reach DEAN KAHN at dean.kahn@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2291.
