Success & Service: Modesto CHP officers honored

California Highway Patrol officers Aaron Keller and Cynthia White were honored Thursday for their efforts in preventing a potential suicide. They received the Attorney General’s Certificate of Commendation for Superior Effort at an event in Clovis.

In April, a distraught woman went onto the Carpenter Road Bridge, threatening to jump 60 feet into the Tuolumne River. Keller and White were able to calm the woman and then remove her from the bridge.

Soroptimist groups honored

The Soroptimist of Modesto and Modesto North clubs received Celebrating Success Awards during the Sierra Pacific Region conference. The local groups were honored in the public awareness category for their ability to publicize their annual Community Christmas Tree at the Vintage Faire Mall.

Modestan to head CPA society

Chad A. Van Houten of Grimbleby Coleman is serving as president of the San Joaquin Chapter of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants for 2015-16. He succeeds Natalya A. Galindo, a CPA with E.&J. Gallo Winery.

The chapter serves more than 800 members in Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. Van Houten previously was the chapter’s vice president. He is a tax manager for Grimbleby Coleman, which provides individuals and businesses with tax, accounting, business advisory and assurance services. Van Houten has bachelor’s degrees in economics and public accounting from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich. He also is a deacon for the Escalon Christian Reformed Church.

Joining Van Houten on the board are Preston L. Osbourn II of Atherton & Associates and Catherine H. Chan of Bowman & Co., Stockton.

Art student recognized

Abigail Stoscher, a student at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, was among 25 students whose writing or artwork was published in the college’s literary arts magazine, Spectrum. The annual publication includes poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction and artwork. A panel of students selects the entries. Three of Stoscher’s drawings, titled “Come Play with Us,” “Paper Bag” and “Rembrandt’s Elephant,” were chosen and published. She is the daughter of Mark and Ruth Stoscher of Modesto.

This story was originally published May 23, 2015 at 2:35 PM with the headline "Success & Service: Modesto CHP officers honored."