LDS Scene

E. Gordon Gee, formerly president of West Virginia University, became president of the University of Colorado on July 1. The university, with campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver, has an enrollment of approximately forty thousand full- and part-time students. Brother Gee has served as president of West Virginia University since 1981.

Two young Latter-day Saints will represent their states in the Miss America scholarship pageant in September. Gina Larsen, 20, is Miss Utah, and Nanette South, 19, is Miss Idaho. Miss Larsen is a daughter of Lorrin H. and Jean McQuivey Larsen of Provo, and a member of the Pleasant View Seventh Singles Ward, Provo Utah Sharon East Stake. Miss South is a daughter of David B. and Judy Bates South of Menan, and a member of the Menan Third Ward, Menan Idaho Stake.

Three thirty-second public service messages produced for the Church won the top award in their category for New Zealand Radio at the 1985 International Radio Festival of New York. The three radio spots, which won gold medals in preliminary competition to qualify for Grand Award consideration, emphasize relationships between parents and children. Ross Jolley, producer-director for New Zealand Radio, said the joint effort between the Church and his organization on the three-spot campaign produced the first-ever airing of religion-sponsored public service messages on New Zealand Radio. Curt Dahl was co-producer of the spots for Bonneville Media Communications of Salt Lake City.

Marvin M. Johnson, an oil company scientist, has been awarded the National Medal of Technology by United States President Ronald Reagan. Brother Johnson, high councilor from the Bartlesville Second Ward, Tulsa Oklahoma Stake, received the award for his work with a catalytic cracking process that produces about half the gasoline used in the U.S. each year.

Barbara Lockhart has been selected as president-elect of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Sister Lockhart, a member of the Broomall Second Ward, Philadelphia Pennsylvania Stake, is a professor of physical education in the College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She will serve as her organization’s president in 1986–87.

A Latter-day Saint boy has been chosen to represent 25,000 handicapped children of British Columbia in a service club’s fund campaign. David Stanton of the Coquitlam Ward, Vancouver British Columbia Stake, selected for the honor before his seventh birthday, is the youngest person ever chosen for the role.

Rayda Reed has been selected as one of one hundred outstanding first-year teachers in the United States by the Student Loan Marketing Association. Sister Reed, a teacher at Townsend Elementary School in Townsend, Delaware, was nominated for the new award by her school district. Sister Reed is second counselor in the Primary presidency of the Dover Ward, Wilmington Delaware Stake.

Ten San Diego (California) area stakes contributed more than $24,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon this year, contributing funds raised through their annual Primary drive. Brenda Terry, Primary president in the Poway California Stake, acted as spokesperson when the check was presented to local telethon anchorman Hal Clement, describing the Primary organization and explaining that in many cases children helped raise the money. During the past five years, stakes in San Diego County have raised $107,700 in their fund drives; the money has been used to provide facilities and equipment for the local children’s hospital. The nationwide telethon benefits children’s hospitals throughout the United States.