Fallen Downey grad Hyde honored at West Point Academy ceremony

First Lt. Daniel Hyde, the Downey High school graduate killed in Iraq in 2009, was honored Saturday at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

His father, Brian Hyde, flew to New York to observe the ceremony in which one of the task forces was named for his son.

Training is the practical application of the knowledge cadets have acquired through their first three years studying military science courses at the academy. The Hydes, who moved from Modesto to Las Vegas in 2013, were contacted by Dillon Macky, a second-class cadet who is the regimental commander for the Cadet Leader Development Training and Cadet Field Training. He asked permission of the Hydes to name the detail in their son’s honor, which they granted.

Brian Hyde spent time last week at the academy and attended Saturday’s cadet field graduation ceremony at the Camp Buckner Parade Field.

“It’s been incredible,” Brian Hyde said Thursday from West Point. “I was walking around with the cadet commander and I’d hear, ‘Hyde 7’ (call sign for the detail) and ‘Hyde’ something else. It’s amazing to be here. The Army has been incredibly supportive.”

Escalon resident achieves Eagle Scout rank

Albert Garza, a recent Escalon High graduate, celebrated earning his Eagle Scout status during a ceremony in Oakdale last month. He is a member of Troop 117, chartered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He spent more than 190 hours planning, raising funds for and supervising the restriping of the faculty parking lot at Escalon High, and also repainted the bus and fire curbs. He completed 54 merit badges in seven years of Scouting.

CASA honored as county’s nonprofit of year

CASA of Stanislaus County, which advocates for abused and neglected children, will be honored Wednesday at the state Capitol as Stanislaus County’s nonprofit of the year. The agency was selected by Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Riverbank, and will be honored with agencies from other counties throughout the state.

CASA also will host its annual Day on the Green fundraiser featuring the Zazu Pitts Memorial Orchestra, headed by CASA Executive Director Steve Ashman, on June 25 at the Del Rio Golf and Country Club in Modesto. Contact CASA at 209-548-6320 for more information.

Howard Training Center honors participants

The Howard Training Center, which helps developmentally disabled individuals learn personal and work skills, hosted its annual Participants Award Dinner on Thursday evening in Modesto. Each year, a participant is chosen from each of the agency’s programs by management, job coach and program supervisors.

This year’s winners included Yvonne Wade from the Golden Opportunities program, Greg Smith from Community Integration, Jaime Martinez from Community Employment, John Blanton from Home At Last, Stacy Gill from Personal Achievement, Monserat Gonselez from Culinary Services, Perry Pribble from Production Unlimited, Tina Bejarano from Cleaning Crew and Dominic Case from the city of Ceres.

Delta Kappa Gamma chapters elect officers

The local Delta Kappa Gamma chapters of Modesto have elected officers for the coming biennium. Officers for the Alpha Epsilon Chapter are: co-Presidents Delores Arnett and Viji Sundar; co-Vice Presidents Anita Bruce, Pat Logan (secretary) and Lynda Tirone; and Treasurer Phoebe Payne.

The Epsilon Nu Chapter president is Kaye Osborn, 1st Vice President Kari McCoy, 2nd Vice President Paula Barton, Recording Secretaries Kathy Burns-Jepson and Debra Matas, Corresponding Secretary Carol Berberian, co-Treasurers Gail McBride and Judie Hardie, Parliamentarian Nancy Scheer, and Sergeant-At-Arms Karen Baker.

And in the Eta Mu Chapter, the co-presidents will be Pat Elston and Lynn Lysko, 1st Vice President Janice Freeman, 2nd Vice President Kathleen Heinzinger, Secretary Linda Chrabas, Treasurer Adele Little, and Parliamentarian Carol Vieira.

Delta Kappa Gamma is a society of professional female educators with more than 90,000 members. Established in 18 member countries around the world, the society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of female educators and excellence in education.

This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 3:51 PM with the headline "Fallen Downey grad Hyde honored at West Point Academy ceremony."