Around Town: Costa Mesa has 2 new firefighters
The Costa Mesa Fire Department welcomed two new firefighters this week.
Austin Krie and Corey Brean are headed into the final stretch of their training, which includes a two-week orientation before they start their probationary assignments, according to the department.
Krie joins the department after working as an ambulance operator in Downey and a reserve firefighter for two departments. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton and trained at the Santa Ana College Regional Fire Academy.
Before coming to Costa Mesa, Brean was an ambulance operator for the Huntington Beach Fire Department and a reserve firefighter in Laguna Beach. He graduated from Cal State Long Beach and the El Camino Fire Academy.
In a statement, Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano called them both “very high-caliber individuals.”
Costa Mesa began recruiting new firefighters last year to fill vacancies created by retirements, Stefano said.
The city hired another pair of recruits in February and expects to bring on four more firefighters in the near future, according to the chief.
*
14 Newport-Mesa students get scholarships
The Assistance League of Newport-Mesa recently gave $2,000 scholarships to 14 Newport-Mesa Unified School District students.
The awards were presented Saturday during the Costa Mesa-based nonprofit’s annual scholarship luncheon.
The recipients were Wendy de la Rosa, Melanie Hercules, Abraham Neri and Arelly Ocampo, all of Estancia High School; Jose Avonce, Tiffany Cruz, David Hartman, Hayden Hemmens, Maria Medrano and Samantha Schroff, all of Newport Harbor High School; Keith Caballero of Back Bay High School; Joseph Santoro III of Corona del Mar High; Karen Serrano of Early College High School and Sierra Johnston of Costa Mesa High.
*
Locals awarded scholarships at Girls Inc. event
Nine Costa Mesa and Newport Beach students were among scholarship recipients during a Girls Inc. of Orange County awards event June 5.
Girls Inc. is a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit that aims to inspire girls through programs focused on science, technology, engineering, math, financial literacy, sound body image, healthy relationships and college and career readiness.
Recipients from area high schools were Alba Barrios of Estancia High School, $5,000; Tania Jaramillo of Costa Mesa High School, $5,000; Graciela Gonzalez of Estancia, $20,000; Arelly Ocampo of Estancia, $20,000; Yaritza Sandoval of Estancia, $20,000; Ana Navarro of Estancia, $2,500; Kimberly Velasquez of Estancia, $2,500; and Valeria Castaneda of Costa Mesa, $2,500.
Lola Lazarra of Newport Heights Elementary School received $100.
*
New leader for Project Hope Alliance
Project Hope Alliance has named Nicole Delaney as its new director of programs.
Delaney comes to the Costa Mesa-based homeless-aid nonprofit with nearly 20 years’ experience in educational program development, according to a news release. She previously worked with Teach for America and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
“As a former teacher and principal, I have witnessed the academic effects of homelessness firsthand,” Delaney said in a statement.
“In fact, homeless youth are four times more likely to drop out of school than their housed peers. However, I also know that all children want to learn and thrive, and Project Hope Alliance is creating an outlet for children to engage in the learning experience regardless of their financial circumstances.”