CANCER SURVIVOR WINS COLLEGE FUNDS.

Byline: DIANA PEYTON Community Columnist

Darren Stern survived childhood cancer and is now on his way to the University of California at Berkeley with an $800 scholarship awarded to him by Childrens Hospital Los Angeles' Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases.

Presented by bold!Kathy Ruccione, director of the long-term, information follow-up and evaluation department, the Sherman Oaks teen attended Celebrate Life, a yearly reunion held by the hospital during which he received the award.

``I was diagnosed with a brain tumor when I was 11. I am 18 now and currently in remission. I went through all of the treatment ... surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, and I can't say that it was fun,'' he said.

But the graduate of Bridges Academy in Sherman Oaks is happy to be moving on. ``I was pretty excited. I'm looking forward to going to school. ... The scholarship was really not on my mind,'' he said.

Stern plans to live in the student dormitory at Berkeley and explore his academic options. ``I'm not quite sure yet, (what I will study), probably something in business, such as marketing,'' he said.

Local women have been honored and appointed by several organizations to positions of responsibility.

The American Cancer Society of Los Angeles has named Jill Banks Barad as 2001 chairwoman for the Valley ``Relay for Life,'' to be held at Los Angeles Valley College on Oct. 13-14.

Teams of 12 people will circle a track by running or walking for 24 consecutive hours to raise funds for cancer research.

This is the first year the Valley will host the event.

Veda E. Ward, chairwoman of California State University Northridge's Leisure Studies and Recreation Department, was honored by the Roundtable Associates for her work in the organization dedicated to promoting concerns of ethnic groups in parks, recreation and conservation.

The University of Judaism has named Risa Munitz-Gruberger as dean of the Fingerhut School of Education.

A Conejo Valley resident, Munitz-Gruberger is a graduate of CSUN and the University of Judaism. She also co-authored ``What's Right, What's Wrong,'' a book about values for families.

Academic success has been demonstrated by local students who have been selected for unique opportunities.

Christopher Yu will attend DeVry Institute of Technology in West Hills with a 2001 presidential full tuition scholarship.

The graduating senior from Phillips Exeter Academy was selected by local high school principals and counselors and for his scores on the ACT and SAT tests.

And Adrean Fernandez of Sherman Oaks attended the National Summit of Young Technology Leaders held in Austin, Texas, from July 1 through this past Tuesday.

He was nominated by Binnie Huang, his teacher at Valley Alternative Magnet School.

Also, Aviation Challenge California has awarded the Right Stuff of 2001 honor to Tarzana resident Jeff ``Sloth'' Graham, who got his unique nickname at the program.

The 14-year-old attended the Mach II program and received hands-on training with flight simulators, 3G centrifuge, aviation curriculum, land and water survival training and experience on the escape and evasion course.

Other students on an artistic course have won 2001 Bronislaw Kaper Awards Fellowships for Excellence in Diversity by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Each of the students has an interest in pursuing symphonic careers and is African-American, Latino, Asian or American Indian - ethnicities currently not well-represented in United States orchestras.

The fellowships range from $500 to $2,500. Local winners are cellist Kristopher Khang and Margaret Shin, flutist, both from Woodland Hills.

Local students are continuing to get their names added to dean's lists.

Students, their town of residence and their respective schools are: Elizabeth Squeglia of Oak Park, listed at St. Michael's College in Burlington, Vt.; Daniel Neil Scheinkman, Hidden Hills, Connecticut College; Bradley Tanner, Tarzana, Northwood University in Michigan; and Andrea Renee Burton, Calabasas, Gardner-Webb University.