Omega Nu earlier this month held its last meeting of the year at Stockwell Cellars in Santa Cruz to announce new board members for 2024-2025.

The new board members include Michele Costa, president; April Lambert, parliamentarian; Marianne Lin, vice president; Gillian Westbrook, treasurer; Sandy Connolly, scholarship chair; Stephanie Lusk Muccia, charity chair; Tiffany Verbica, publicity chair; Kate Deaver, recording secretary; Jackie Becker, corresponding secretary; and Tamera Smith, guard.

Omega Nu of Santa Cruz is a volunteer group of more than 50 women that hosts the annual Ducky Derby fundraiser to benefit the community with funding for college and vocational scholarships for high school students, local charities and teachers for public elementary and middle school classroom materials.

For information about Omega Nu of Santa Cruz, email omeganusc@gmail.com or visit duckyderbysantacruz.org.

Samantha Sharp to earn doctorate

Samantha Sharp, of Santa Cruz, is scheduled to earn her doctorate from the UC Davis Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

Her work in limnology is funded by the NASA Earth Science division, where she will continue her research in cyanobacteria in freshwater lakes.

Sharp is a 2007 graduate of Santa Cruz High School.

Foundation honors Dominican

Dignity Health announced that Dominican Hospital has been recognized in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2024 Healthcare Equality Index.

“This national recognition from the Human Rights Campaign is a testament to the dedication of our compassionate care teams across the state of California, who are committed to making sure that our LGBTQ+ patients feel welcome, heard, and safe in our care sites every day,” said Julie J. Sprengel, president, California region in a prepared release.

The index is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of health care facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.

Metro earns award

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District’s “One Ride at a Time” campaign has been named Public Outreach Program of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation.

The campaign was recognized at the foundation’s annual Transportation Awards gala in Sacramento Thursday night.

CTF is a statewide nonprofit organization is dedicated to highlighting achievement, innovation and excellence in the transportation industry.

Education

Ryan Gonzalez, of Watsonville, earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Gonzalez was also named to the dean’s list for the spring semester.

The university awarded more than 6,000 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies.

• Ryan Philipovitch, of Santa Cruz, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

• Kailyn Winter, of Soquel, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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