favorite sons & daughters

Advertisement

Ashley Benoit, a 2002 Las Vegas High School graduate, is a member of the University of Nevada, Reno, Integrated Marketing Communications class that beat six other schools from California and Hawaii at the regional National Student Advertising Competition in San Francisco in April.

The team also received the Best Media Plan Award and Stacie Eliopulos, a broadcast journalism student and the team's account executive, won the Best Presenter Award.

The UNR team's agency, called Battle Born Communications, created a marketing communication plan for America Online's eight products, including a new social networking system for AOL Instant Messenger.

Teams submitted books detailing their plans and made 20-minute presentations.

Benoit is the public relations/promotions and logistics director for the team.

She graduated from UNR in May with a degree in journalism and English.

She is the daughter of Dick and Judy Benoit of Las Vegas.

Mariah Mitchell, 13, was crowned Teen Miss in the Winter National Miss American Starlet Pageant in December 2007.

Mariah competed with young ladies ages 13-16 from all over the United States.

Mariah will start ninth grade in the fall.

During middle school, she was captain of her cheer team at Mack Middle School, was a member of the school band and served on the student council as secretary and vice president.

Mariah would like to attend college after high school and earn a degree in a field that involves working with children.

She enjoys modeling, dancing, fishing and spending time outdoors with her family.

She is the daughter of Todd and Janie Mitchell of North Las Vegas.

Arianna Nicole Verano, 6, was named KLUC 98.5-FM's 2007 Student of the Year.

Arianna attends Heckethorn Elementary School.

Arianna's teacher, Donna Nicholas, was named 2007 KLUC 98.5-FM's Teacher of Year, having been nominated by Arianna.

Arianna has physical limitations as a result of cerebral palsy caused at the time of her birth, but she loves to learn and tries exceptionally hard in school.

Arianna is sister to Chrystian, 9, and Brendan, 8, and the daughter of Hector and Jackie Verano, all of Las Vegas.

Jamie Lyn Craig, 22, a 2004 Foothill High School high honors graduate and Navy ROTC scholarship recipient, graduated from the University of San Diego with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, May 25.

Craig was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy, May 23, in San Diego.

She has aspirations of becoming a Naval aviator, and has been selected to start her flight training with the U.S. Navy in August in Pensacola, Fla.

Craig is the daughter of Robert Craig and Shawna and Don McIntosh.

Cameron Legere, 18, received Eagle status in the Boy Scouts of America on March 7.

Legere is a member of Troop 260, and has held the position of senior patrol leader for the Boy Scouts.

For his Eagle project, he and 35 others helped re-secure seven mine shafts in Sloan to keep campers and ATV riders from falling into the open mines.

Legere graduated from Arbor View High School in June.

He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gilcrease Ranch Ward, and he enjoys swimming and restoring his 1967 Camaro in his free time.

Legere is the son of Bill and Marilyn Legere of Las Vegas.