Neighbors

Lei Lei Wang Ekvall, a partner of the Costa Mesa-based law firm

Albert, Weiland & Golden LLP was named president of the Orange County

Asian American Bar Assn. for 2002-03. Wang Ekvall has been with the firm

since 1995 and serves as a member of the board of directors of the Orange

County Bar Assn. and the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum. . . . Lesley

Danziger, an Orange Coast College English professor, was selected to

participate in the National Institute for Leadership Development Leaders

Program. The international program focuses on educational administrators

and faculty, and helps to enhance the skills they need to assume major

decision-making roles at their institutions. Participants were selected

based on their professional abilities, interests in advancement within

higher education and the quality of their proposed projects. Danziger is

the project director for the OCC Middle College High School and was

nominated by OCC President Margaret A. Gratton. . . . OCC honored nearly

500 students at its 44th annual Honors Night Ceremony in May. More than

$260,000 in scholarships were awarded to 289 students, and 186 students

were presented with leadership and service awards. OCC Student Body

President Traci Travis received the second annual Sharon K. Donoff

Student Leader of the Year Award. Sharron Perez received the Les Miller

Award as OCC’s Woman of the Year for 2001-02, and Giovanni Scarfone was

named the Les Miller Man of the Year. Perez and Scarfone were also

recipients of the Joseph R. Kroll Student Leader of Distinction Award.

They shared that award with five other students, including Amy Angelo,

Adriana Chrispens, Laura Mayer, Traci Travis and Luong Truong. Guy

Chapman was named OCC’s Disabled Student of the Year. . . . Marine Corps

Reserve Pvt. Sean F. Biggio, son of Susan M. and Robert J. Biggio of

Costa Mesa, completed 12 weeks of basic training at the Marine Corps

Recruit Depot in San Diego. Designed to create both physical and mental

challenges, Biggio and his fellow recruits participated in physical

conditioning programs, classroom and various field assignments. . . .

Patrick Dennis Harkless of Newport Beach earned his bachelor’s degree in

human development with a minor in creative communications from Prescott

College in Arizona. Harkless participated in the commencement ceremony,

during which students shared their personal accomplishments, struggles

and future goals with the audience. The small liberal college emphasizes

self-directed, experiential learning. . . . Navy Reserve Capt. Michael J.

Yraceburn of Newport Beach was promoted to his current rank during his

service with the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor,

Hawaii. His promotion was based on his superior job performance and

proficiency in his designated specialty. Yraceburn graduated from Corona

del Mar High School in 1976 and four years later from the U.S. Merchant

Marine Academy with a bachelor’s of science degree.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please direct

noteworthy information to Christine Carrillo via fax at (949) 646-4170,

or send e-mail to o7 [email protected] .