Favorite Sons & Daughters

View welcomes announcements of recent achievements of Favorite Sons & Daughters who have graduated from local high schools. Achievements may run the gamut from earning a college degree to successfully climbing Mount Everest. Please include the name of the area high school and year graduated. Send announcements and photos by mail to: Melissa Martin, View, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070; by fax to 477-3852; or by e-mail, referencing Favorite in the subject line, to mmartin@viewnews.com.

Matthew R. Baxter, Marine Corp. Pfc., a 2002 graduate of Southern Nevada Vocational Technical Center, completed his basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in December. In boot camp, Baxter attained the rank of sharp shooter. After his graduation he worked for his recruiter in Las Vegas and then went to Camp Pendelton, Calif., to complete combat training. From there he went to Goodfellows Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, to complete crash, fire and rescue classes. Baxter is now assigned to Miramar Marine Base in San Diego in a wing attachment awaiting an August deployment to Iraq. Baxter is the son of Bob and Vicki Baxter of Vancouver, Wash., and grandson of Frank and Sandy Kratzinger of Henderson.

Brandon Eisinger recently enrolled in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, taking place in Houston-Galveston, Texas, from July 6-15. Eisinger is one of 350 high school students from around the United States who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership potential and an interest in a career in medicine. Throughout the 10-day forum, NYLF/MED will introduce students to a variety of concepts in public health, medical ethics, research and general practice, and will lead site visits to medical facilities and clinics. Eisinger will be a junior this fall at The Meadows School. He is the son of Paul and Michelle Eisinger of Summerlin.

Jeffrey Ryan Smith, a 2000 graduate of Chapparal High School is currently living his life-long dream of becoming a pilot. Smith joined the Air Force in 2003 and completed his formal training as Air Crew Radar Tech on a C130. He is currently stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. Smith also has been taking college courses toward earning a bachelor's degree so that he can go on to join the Air Force Pilot Training program. While maintaining As in all of his college courses, he has found time to play golf and work on base. Smith recently received his wings and is now considered an air crew member. Smith is the son of Michael and Kathryn Seligman of Henderson, and Stanley W. Smith of Michigan.

Patricia Wirig traveled to Quito, Ecuador, on June 3 to spend 12 weeks volunteering in orphanages. In the future, Wirig plans to continue her work, traveling with other volunteers through Orphanage Support Services Organization, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that sends volunteers on a regular basis to help in local orphanages in Cuenca and Quito -- two of the country's largest cities.

OSSO began sending volunteers, mostly college-age adults, on missions in May 1999. Since that time it has sent more than 600 volunteers to help in various aspects of the program, doing everything from changing diapers and feeding infants to administering physical therapy and teaching English.

Wirig is a hospital volunteer in addition to working in homeless shelters, and she enjoys volunteering with the YMCA. In high school, she was student body vice-president and a member of National Honor Society as well as co-captain of the volleyball team. Wirig is a 2001 graduate of Centennial High School and is currently studying nursing at the Community College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. Wirig is the daughter of Frank and Kathryn Wirig of Las Vegas.


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