Page 5 Foothills Sentry JUNE 2025 JOHNSON MOTORCARS 34 Years of Specializing in the Service and Repair of Mercedes-Benz Gary Johnson 714-997-2567 982 N. Batavia # B13, Orange, CA 92867 gary@johnsonmotorcars.com @ramblingroseoc for different schools to make sure everybody was getting what they need.” “This was a new process for all of us,” Ana Page said. “We got some 2,000 survey results in multiple languages. We held focus groups in English and Spanish. Dr. Monárrez connects with families in English and Spanish. She is a transformational leader." “Selecting a superintendent is the most important task the board takes on," Andrea Yamasaki advised. "We worked with the community to put together a collective vision for our schools. That collective vision included a passion for students, teachers and public education; someone familiar with the area who is bilingual. She has that experience, most of it in California. She has plans for community roundtables and visited every one of our schools before her interview.” While the majority of the audience at the meeting expressed support for the board’s choice, there was one naysayer who expressed her discontent with the candidate during public comments. Crystal Miles said she was concerned that the board didn’t release the survey results and formally requested them. “And,” she noted, “the board is missing an important point. Recall voters wanted someone to land in the middle. I believe you guys landed far to the left. You haven’t given us any reason for hiring her, except she’s bilingual." Erickson suggested that “caring about kids is not a left or right issue, that public education should not be political.” Stephen Glass summarized the view of the board, noting, “how often can you say we hired the most qualified person and stand on that. There was no better individual to take on this position at this particular time.” Monárrez starts July 1. "Orange Unified" continued from page 1 Ground broken for MSI headquarters in Orange Officials from the City of Orange, Supervisor Don Wagner’s office and the offices of Representative Lou Correa, State Assemblyman Avelino Valencia and State Senator Steven Choi joined the owners of MS International to break ground for the company’s new headquarters in Orange. “We are proud to have you in the city,” Mayor Dan Slater said. “You are a true American success story and we are happy to help the company grow and expand in the City of Orange.” “This is really the story of America,” MSI owner Manu Shah noted. “It’s the story of an immigrant coming to America and achieving success.” Shah and his wife Rika started the company 50 years ago, providing quality stone for residential and commercial use. Today, MSI is a leading supplier of flooring, countertop, wall tile, and hardscaping products in North America. It boasts 3,000 employees in 57 locations. The Shahs moved the company to Orange in 2003, and the family has lived in the city for 29 years. Sons Raj and Rup Shah grew up in the business and have taken over its day-to-day operations. “This is not just a building,” Raj Shah said of the new headquarters, “it reflects who we are, and we chose Orange because the city shares our values.” Wielding shovels are, from left, Orange Councilman Denis Bilodeau, Orange Councilwoman Kathy Tavoularis, Mayor Dan Slater, MSI owners Raj, Sona, Rika and Manu and Rup Shah and Planning Commissioner Rick Martinez. Artist's rendering of the MSI headquarters Rika and Manu Shah accept an acknowledgement from Mayor Dan Slater. Tustin Area Man and Woman of the Year nominees announced By Mark Eliot Nominees, three men and three women, have been announced for the 2024 Tustin Area Man and Woman of the Year (TAMWY) by local nonprofit groups. The 2024 nominees for Man of the Year are: Johnny Johnson, American Legion Tustin Post 227; Brady Michel, Tustin Host Lions Club; and Ed Reynolds, Tustin Community Foundation. The nominees for Woman of the Year are: Tammis Berkheimer, Tustin Community Foundation; Nettie Hershman, Tustin Area Woman's Club; and Sona Shah, My Private Professor. The TAMWY program has been held for more than 60 years. Tustin area individuals are recognized for their dedicated work, leadership and outstanding volunteerism in the community. Nominations for the awards come from local nonprofit organizations or previous winners (TAMWY Committee "life members"). The annual Tustin Area Man and Woman of the Year Awards Dinner will be held on Friday, June 6, at 6 p.m. at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge, 1751 S. Elks Lane. The dinner is attended by city and county officials, previous TAMWY award winners and community members. TAMWY 2025 Awards Dinner tickets can be purchased at the Tustin Community Foundation website at TustinCommunityFoundation.org. Additionally, the TAMWY Committee will recognize an outstanding high school senior from the Tustin Unified School District. Student musicians from Beckman High School will perform at the event. For more information, please contact 2022 TAWOY Sharon King at sharonking01@gmail. com, or 2022 TAMOY Kurt Bensworth at kbauthor2@gmail. com. Tustin Area Woman’s Club announces scholarship winners Tustin Area Woman’s Club (TAWC), an all-volunteer philanthropic community service organization, has announced its college scholarship winners for 2025. For over 60 years, TAWC has given college scholarships to deserving Tustin Unified School District students. This year, TAWC has awarded a $1,000 collegiate scholarship to two graduating seniors from each of the five high schools in the district: Foothill, Tustin, Hillview, Beckman and Legacy Magnet Academy. From Foothill High, Isabella Lugoj plans to attend UCLA to study biochemistry and molecular biology; Alexis Chew will attend UC San Diego to study human biology. From Tustin, Roselyn Gallegos is exploring Vanguard, Cal State Fullerton or Azusa Pacific to earn a degree in nursing; Ruby Nguyen looks forward to studying public health sciences at UC Irvine. Other awardees include Mia Ayala and Julissa Rivera from Hillview; Madeleine Chang and Madison Heimann from Beckman; Rabina Kaur and Jaidyn Lin from Legacy Magnet. Photos by Tony Richards
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