Success & Service: Former Modestan Jenkins gets kudos from NASA

Greg Jenkins, a 1993 Beyer High School grad, was recognized by NASA for leading a project team that successfully integrated the new Orion Spacecraft with the Delta IV launch vehicle in a successful test flight in December. The spacecraft is designed to carry up to four astronauts beyond low earth orbit to explore asteroids and eventually go to Mars. It also will be able to transport crews and supplies to and from the International Space Station. The first mission to carry astronauts won’t occur until at least 2021.

Jenkins is a principle systems engineer with United Launch Alliance in Centennial Co. He earned his mechanical engineering decree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and spent years in the aerospace and defense industry in Silcon Valley before joining the Colorado company in 2013.

Top teens recognized by mayor, council

A group of 29 Modesto high school students comprised the 2014-15 Mayor’s Top Teens class and were recognized at the Aug. 11 City Council meeting. The program recognizes the good acts and accomplishments of local teens. Mayor Garrad Marsh said the program is a partnership between the city and Modesto City Schools. The city also recognized the program's sponsors. More information about the program is available at www.modestogov.com/council/topteens.

The class is: Jhanae Askew, Enochs High; Hannah Barkus, Downey; Prachi Bulsara, Davis; Connor Cogdill, Enochs; Jennifer Cordova, Modesto; Summer Cortez, Downey; James De La O, Modesto; Kennedy Felton, Enochs; Juston Forte, Central Catholic; Jaskirat Gaelan, Modesto; Naomi Garrett, Downey; Cambry Hastings, Enochs; Melissa Howard, Davis; Alex Luna, Modesto; Miranda Mendoza, Modesto; Krupa Modi, Modesto; Nicole Parhizgari, Modesto; Maya Raj, Modesto; Megan Robertson, Enochs; Emmanuel Rodrigues, Central Catholic; Madeleine Souza, Downey; Sakander Sultan, Modesto; Susana Tejeda, Downey; Taylor Thatcher, Beyer; Angela Villa, Enochs; Kim Vu, Modesto; Amira Wheeler, Modesto; William Zamora, Modesto; and Jennifer Zhou, Modesto.

Mantecan honored for volunteer work

Manteca’s Robin Taberna received a Maytag Dependable Leader Award, which recognizes Boys & Girls Club officials who make a difference in their communities. Taberna is one of 11 winners nationally, and the award includes a $20,000 grant for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manteca and Lathrop. The organization will use the grant to award four $500 scholarships per year for a decade to qualified members attending either college or technical school. Taberna volunteers as a karate teacher and has taught approximately 5,000 people of all ages since 1982.

MJC student represents climate group in Washington, D.C.

Modesto Junior College student Jody Strait represented Modesto’s new Citizens’ Climate Lobby Modesto Chapter at the 2015 international conference in Washington, D.C., in June. She and other representatives from around the nation met with their congressional representatives or their staffs to educate them about the benefits of a Revenue Neutral Carbon Fee and Dividend proposal that would collect a national fee on carbon pollution, and then return the fee directly to American families as a monthly dividend check. The government would not keep any of the collected fee.

Delta Kappa Gamma members awarded

Henrietta Sparkman and Betty Jean Reynolds of Delta Kappa Gamma, Epsilon Nu Chapter, received the prestigious Chi State Distinguished Career/Professional Service Award. The award came for their 25-plus years of service to the youth art scholar program, which they have spearheaded each year.

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Success & Service: Former Modestan Jenkins gets kudos from NASA."