Valley people

Private graduates training
U.S. Army Pvt. Fredrick J. Bourgeois IV, a 2012 graduate of The King’s Academy in Sunnyvale, graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. 
Bourgeois is the son of Fredrick III and Karen Bourgeois of Felton. 
He completed nine weeks of training in Army core values, physical fitness, combat skills, weapons, chemical warfare, rifle marksmanship and many other combat training activities. 
 
Local accepted to summer program
Mei Curry, a 16-year-old Scotts Valley resident and sophomore at Cypress Charter High School, was accepted by Hanover College in Indiana for the Pre-College Summer Forensic Science Program.
During the one-week program, participants will use laboratory science to solve a crime. Her goal is to major in forensic anthropology in college.
Separately, Curry received two first-place blue ribbons for her horse What About Bob at the 2013 Seven Oaks Dressage Extravaganza in Woodside on April 21. 
 
Locals win entrepreneurship competition
Luca Simic and Justin Hawthorn, both students at Scotts Valley High School, won the Youth Entrepreneurship Program High School Business Plan Challenge sponsored by Cabrillo College. As part of the challenge, the duo developed a time-lapse photography company called TimeSync and pitched their idea to a panel at Scotts Valley High School on April 18.
They will compete for $5,000 in the statewide Business and Entrepreneurship Center Boost! competition along with free support and guidance from the Youth Entrepreneurship Program at Cabrillo.
 
Locals take third in underwater vehicle competition
Team 4-H2O from the Felton and Boulder Creek 4-H programs placed third out of 12 advanced ranger teams in the 12th annual Marine Advanced Remotely Operated Vehicle competition at Aptos High School. 
The team performed various tasks such as measuring temperatures out of a simulated hydrothermal vent, inserting multiple simulated scientific measuring devices into seafloor housing devices, opening doors to remove and replace scientific devices, as well as other tasks.
 
Local martial arts instructor honored
Elliot Stone, 25, of Elite Martial Arts was given the Bear of the Year award at the annual Vine Hill School auction fundraiser on March 9.
Stone was given the award for his example of hard work, strong character and commitment to the Scotts Valley community.
 
Felton resident named to dean’s list
Thomas I. Scott of Felton was named to the Dean’s List at Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa.
Scott is studying cinematic arts production and earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher for the fall 2012 semester.
 
Ben Lomond student named top scholar
Miryam Becker of Ben Lomond was named a Charles O. Thompson Scholar for the 2012-13 academic year by Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Students must receive all As and Bs to qualify for the honor.
Becker is in her first year studying environmental engineering.
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