This year 176 Gavilan College students have been awarded a combined total of $119,450 in scholarship money from the Gavilan College Education Foundation, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay and private scholarships.

One of these talented students is Frances Soto, the recipient of the prestigious Karl S. Pister Leadership Award from the University of California Santa Cruz. She was chosen as one of the most promising transfer students who will be attending UCSC, and will receive $10,000 a year, for two years, for a total of $20,000.

Candidates for the Karl S. Pister Leadership Award were nominated by the presidents of each of 13 regional community colleges, and recipients were selected by the UCSC chancellor in consultation with the Leadership Opportunity Awards Program Screening Committee.

As a re-entry student at Gavilan College, Soto has been on the President's List and has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 after completing six semesters. Other accomplishments include volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, helping to build homes for low-income families in Alviso, as well as raising a family as a single parent while working full time.

Soto will be majoring in legal studies at UC Santa Cruz in the fall and plans on giving back to the community by providing pro bono legal services to underrepresented groups in the area.

"It is sad to see people who are unable to understand legal documents," she said. "Not only because they can be very complex and confusing, but because they cannot read them or do no understand their legal rights. Plus they are too poor to pay an attorney to help them interpret the information. I see this basic need here in Hollister and wish I could help out right now."

Henry Coe named as one of U.S. top 100 campgrounds

Henry Coe Park in Morgan Hill was named as one of the 2008 America's 'Top 100 Family Campgrounds' as announced by ReserveAmerica.

The Top 100 Family Campgrounds were selected based on testimonials, campground ratings and feedback provided by park rangers, regional park management and campers throughout the year Nearly 4,000 parks were reviewed and the final 100 campgrounds were determined based on specific family- friendly criteria ranging from educational programs and visitor centers to camping amenities and overall beauty and scenery.

Factors including the quality and availability of hot showers, laundry facilities, hiking trails, family beaches, radio-free zones, visitor centers, educational programs, children's events and location were also considered.

People can explore and reserve more than 4,000 campgrounds by visiting www.ReserveAmerica.com.

CHP on the prowl for seat belt, child restraint violations

California Highway Patrol officers statewide will focus their attention on motorists who do not buckle up. May 21 is designated as "Vehicle Occupant Safety Awareness and Education Day," to coincide with the statewide "Click It or Ticket" enforcement from through June 2.

"The goal of this campaign is to stress that seat belts save lives," CHP Capt. Sean McRae said. "More than 30 percent of all vehicle passengers killed statewide in 2006 and 2007 were not buckled up at the time of the collision."

CHP officers on grant-funded overtime, provided by the Office of Traffic Safety, will take to the road specifically looking for violations of seat belt and child safety restraint laws.

CHP officers to wait tables for Special Olympics

California Highway Patrol officers will trade in their handcuffs and badges for menus and serving trays as they greet customers and wait tables at Chili's Grill to raise money for Special Olympics.

The "Tip-A-Cop" event takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. May 29 at Chili's, 850 Renz Lane, Gilroy. Officers will team with regular wait staff, and during the course of their duties will share information about Special Olympics and solicit "tips" as donations.

Proceeds assist in allowing Special Olympics Northern California to provide year round sports training and competition to children and adults with developmental disabilities at no cost.

Details: 848-2324.

Gilroy Elks awards $6,000 in scholarships to local students

Gilroy Elks Lodge #1567, as part of the Elks National Youth Week, honored six graduating seniors from Gilroy, Live Oak and Monte Vista High Schools for their achievements and awarded them $6,000 in scholarships May 7.

Live Oak senior Kimia Gharderi received $1,000 from the Gilroy Elks, $700 from the West Central District of the California Hawaii Elks Association and is a finalist for an Elks National Foundation Scholarship worth a minimum of $4,000 with the top award at $60,000. Results of that competition will be available later this month. Other receipts included: Gilroy High School seniors Ivan Rodriquez, $1,000 from Gilroy Elks and $800 from the California-Hawaii Elks Association and Cameron Shew $500 from the Gilroy Elks. Live Oak High School Seniors: Brandon Seminatore $1,000 from Gilroy Elks and $800 California-Hawaii Elks Association; Christopher Bailey $500 Gilroy Elks and $800 California Hawaii Elks Association; Shelly McCune and Kaleigh Mallette $500 each from the Gilroy Elks. Monte Vista High School student Cassandra Burrows from Gilroy received $1,000 from the Gilroy Elks.