Success & Service: Emanuel employees named Tenet Heroes

Two employees of Turlock’s Emanuel Medical Center were chosen as “Tenet Heroes” for their commitment to quality, innovation and service.

Registered respiratory therapist Bridgette LaMere and Manager of Emergency Preparedness Jana Mitchell were nominated by their Emanuel colleagues and chosen by a national selection panel to join 134 other Tenet employees among 130,000 nationwide to receive the honor.

The Tenet Heroes program began in 2008 as a way to recognize employees who exemplify the company’s core values and go above and beyond the call of duty. LaMere has been with Emanuel since 2007. In June 2015, a 35-year-old single father of two died from a massive heart attack and was kept on life support until his organs could be removed for donations. LaMere made handprints of the patient to give to the two children as a memento.

Mitchell, meanwhile, spearheaded the hospital’s first “Healthy Over Hungry” cereal drive. She organized a companywide team competition that generated 23,433 servings of cereal – more than double the amount given by any other hospital in the region.

Seniors to be honored for public service

The Stanislaus County Commission on Aging will honor five seniors during the May 17 meeting of the county Board of Supervisors. This year’s winners include Dale Butler of Modesto in supervisorial District 1, Teresa Guerrero of Ceres in District 2, Beverly Sawyer of Modesto in District 3, Richard Edgecomb of Modesto in District 4 and Paul Borchardt of Patterson in District 5. All were nominated for their volunteer efforts in areas that include community service, humanitarianism, leadership, political advocacy or being a good neighbor.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the board chamber at 1010 10th St. in Modesto.

Modestan serving on nuclear-powered sub

Modesto’s Vincent Camarda, a Navy petty officer second class, is serving on one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines, USS City of Corpus Christi. Camarda is a 2011 graduate of Beyer High School and is an electronics technician responsible for the maintenance and repair of all electronic communication equipment aboard ship. The sub is based at Pearl Harbor and is one of 40 attack submarines designed to hunt down and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; strike targets ashore with cruise missiles; carry and deliver Navy SEALs; carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions; and engage in mine warfare. Its primary tactical advantage is stealth, operating undetected under the sea for long periods of time.

Eight area students earn Hollis scholarships

Eight students from the Modesto area earned John L. Hollis Scholarships for Christian public service. They are Matthew Berlin of Johansen High; Sarah Berry of Beyer High; Sarah Dias and Bailey Johnson of Enochs High; Kimberly Kerr of Hughson High; Taylor Osnaya of Central Catholic High; Austin Butler of Liberty University; and Samantha Larson of Big Valley Christian High. The scholarships honor the memory of Hollis, a former Modesto City Schools trustee, and are based on community service and academics along with participation in church and Christian ministries.

Modesto AmBASSadors planning special fishing day

The Modesto AmBASSadors fishing club will host its 16th “Take a Special Person Fishing Day” on May 3 at the Kelsey Bass Ranch east of Snelling. Each year, the organization takes people with physical or mental disabilities out for a day of fishing. Each participant will receive a baseball cap, T-shirt, and fishing rod and reel to take home, donated by sponsors. Lunch, drinks and snacks will be provided. Local bass fishermen donate their time, boats and expertise. The group invites parents, guardians and family members to join in as helpers and spectators. Participants must be able to get in and out of boats. Call Henry “Red” Vanderweide at 209-324-2718. The organization also has a Facebook page.

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Success & Service: Emanuel employees named Tenet Heroes."