Compiled by Kelly Ryan
Dr. Stanley Galant was named OC’s 2007 Hospital Hero by the Hospital Association of Southern California. Galant is medical director of the CHOC Breathmobile, a mobile asthma clinic. He was one of five healthcare professionals from Southern California honored for professional achievements. Also, Children’s Hospital of Orange County pediatrician Benjamin Silverman was selected by the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Emergency Medicine to receive the 2007 Jim Seidel Distinguished Service Award. This honor recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual in the field of pediatric emergency medicine.
David Colgan was given the Gwen Rosebeary Award by the OC Chapter of the Building Industry Association. Colgan is a partner at Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP and an Irvine resident. The award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a long-term commitment and dedication to the building association in OC.
The Red Cross Humanitarian Award was presented to seven local corporate partners for major financial contributions of $50,000 or more in aid during the recent California wildfires. Award recipients were: Alcoa Foundation, American Vanguard Charitable Relief Foundation, Downey Savings & Loan Association, EZ Lube, Pacific Life Foundation, Samueli Foundation and Wells Fargo Foundation. Also recognized were Grainger and Standard Pacific Homes.
Six Southern California high school students were acknowledged as recipients of the John Wooden Scholar-Athlete Award presented by Toyo Tires. Toyo provided a scholarship of $500 to each student and $500 to each of their high school athletic departments. OC scholar-athletes were Chelsea Alfafara of Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Christian Daniel of Canyon High School in Anaheim and Meredith Kueny of Brea Olinda High School in Brea.
Air Force Village West received the Sage Award for Project of the Year. The Sage award recognizes the developer of a completed age-qualified housing development. Air Force Village West, also a nonprofit that runs the complex, features three phases of apartments, duplexes and detached homes available to all retired military officers and their spouses. Irwin Pancake Architects designed and oversaw the project.
Greg Dillion was included in The Best Lawyers in America 2008 in the field of insurance law. Dillion is cofounding partner of business and real estate law firm Newmeyer & Dillion LLP. Dillion specializes in the representation of developers, institutional lenders and general contractors. Dillion was named to the Southern California Super Lawyers list since 2004 and was recognized in 2005 as one of OC’s Top 50 Super Lawyers.
Dick McCloskey, Paul Thomas and Jeff Golan were named finalists in the national 2007 Community Leadership Awards. The awards were presented by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation and InvestmentNews. For more than 13 years they have volunteered 1,000 hours per year for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of OC and Inland Empire.
Carolyn Cavecche was recognized by the OC chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar as its 2007 Woman of the Year. Cavecche is mayor of Orange and chairwoman of the Orange County Transportation Authority board. She was honored for finding practical solutions to OC transportation issues. WTS is an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation.
Newport Beach architecture firm Knitter & Associates Inc. earned a certificate from ProRepro for completing its sustainable certificate program. The company earned distinction as a green company for its in-house printing practices.
Best Western Laguna Brisas Spa Hotel in Laguna Beach received the Best Western Director’s Award for outstanding quality standards. The Award recognizes Best Western International hotels with a cleanliness and maintenance inspection score. Hotels must also meet Best Western’s requirements for design and high customer service scores to qualify for distinction.
Attorney Wylie A. Aitkin received the Franklin G. West Award from the OC Bar Association. Aitkin is a trial lawyer and founding partner of Aitken Aitken Cohn in Santa Ana. The West Award is given to an attorney or judge who has made contributions to advance and elevate justice and law.
The city of Rancho Santa Margarita received the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. This is the sixth consecutive award given to the city for its comprehensive annual financial report.
