Midwood
Dorienne Peters, a high-flying student at Brooklyn College Academy with a 3.80 grade point average (which is pretty high up there), and cadet commander of the Floyd Bennett Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary, has been accepted by her top choice of colleges: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as West Point, Air Force and Naval Academies. She is also the recipient of AFROTC, NROTC and Civil Air Patrol Scholarships.
Our high-flying ace is planning on pursuing an aeronautical engineering degree at the Naval Academy with her sights set on becoming a fighter pilot in the military.
Standing O wishes her clear skies ahead.
Brooklyn College Academy [2900 Bedford Ave. and Campus Road in Midwood-James Hall; (718) 951–5941].
Manhattan Beach
Aloha and mahalo
Standing O is sending out a long-distance O to Helen Nielsen, alumna of Kingsborough Community College, who was appointed a member of the Board of Regents at the University of Hawaii. Our native daughter has always had a passion for community service and environmental sustainability. Her current home in Maui for the past 30 years is 100 percent off the grid using independent infrastructure utilizing solar power with rainwater catchment. Until her recent appointment she was a field rep for U.S. Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii.
You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but you can’t take the Brooklyn out of the girl, and our Bay Ridge daughter still speaks with pride and fondness of her time as a student.
“I had a terrific Archaeology professor, whose classes would take part in digs on campus,” she said.
In the new role, she will oversee the seven community colleges of the University of Hawaii meeting the various needs of students statewide through on-campus and online learning, and through a wide variety of outreach programs.
“My experience at Kingsborough taught me to be an independent thinker and to consider my many options as an adult,” she said. “Education is vital to the health of the economy and to the future.”
Her last bit of advice to current Kingsborough students is: “Be bold, take chances, and move out of their comfort zones.”
Standing O wishes her a long and successful tenure.
Kingsborough Community College [2001 Oriental Blvd. at Quentin Street in Manhattan Beach; (718) 368–5000]
Gravesend
Too many candles
Assemblyman William Colton (D–Gravesend) and District Leader Nancy Tong wished a special happy birthday to octogenarians Mayya Milina, Bella Baytalskaya, and Mark Chernyakovsky on their 80th birthdays. The three are avid readers and long-time members of the Book Club at the Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst.
“Birthdays are always a celebration of life, and these seniors continue to live as exemplary citizens,” said Colton. “They have worked hard their entire lives, often helping others along the way.”
In recognition of their long-time service to their community, Colton presented each with citations of honor.
Standing O wishes the seniors a very happy birthday and looks forward to wishing them more felicitations on their 90th and 100th milestones.
Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst [7802 Bay Parkway at 78th Street in Bensonhurst, (718) 331–6800].
Bay Ridge
Save the date
The Vikings are coming — to Bay Ridge for the annual Viking Fest. So get out your horned helmets, big boats, and come on down to the annual whoo-de-doo on May 16. Hosted by Scandinavian East Coast Museum, the fest will have a Viking Village Scavenger Hunt, featuring a half-sized replica Viking ship called The Norseman, entertainment, and lots of goodies to eat.
Come on down on May 16 from 10 am to 5 pm for some good old fashioned Nordic fun. Skoal!
Bliss-Owl’s Head Park [68th St. and Narrows Avenue in Bay Ridge; (718) 748–5950].
