COMMUNITY NEWS : MONROE STUDENT WINS $1,000 IN ESSAY CONTEST.

Byline: Virginia Gonzalez Daily News Staff Writer

Gustavo Ochoa, a junior at Monroe High School in Van Nuys, won $1,000 in an essay contest to heighten awareness of public health issues among high school students.

Titled ``Violence Among Adolescents,'' the essay tackled concerns about school and neighborhood safety. Ochoa, 17, of Panorama City beat out a field of 50 competitors in the contest, sponsored by the Public Health Foundation.

The student told the essay judges that as a child, he had promised to send his grandmother in Mexico the first $1,000 he earned in the United States, said Barbara Meltzer, a foundation spokeswoman.

Shortly after the presentation, Ochoa mailed the money, Meltzer said.

Writing in Spanish, the teen-ager suggested solutions for campus and neighborhood safety, taking aim at juvenile delinquency, which he attributed to lack of supervision, lack of productive activities to keep kids off the streets and drug abuse.

Ochoa recommended initiating ongoing communication among parents, teachers and authorities to prevent at-risk young people from getting into trouble or from becoming involved in violence.

Gov. Pete Wilson has named Dereck Andrade of Encino-based Pinkerton Security and Investigation Services to the California Mentor Initiative Council.

Andrade, 35, of Pasadena, is among the group of 35 executives from California-based corporations and nonprofit organizations selected as council members to coordinate mentor relationships between youths and California professionals.

Andrade also has been involved with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, Athletes and Entertainers for Kids and the Los Angeles Urban League.

The California Mentor Program was formed recently by Wilson to help youngsters challenged by activities around them such as juvenile crime, teen-age pregnancy, adolescent alcohol and drug use and school failure, problems that can be traced in part to the growing numbers of fatherless families statewide.

Wilson formed the council to broaden existing mentoring programs and create new mentoring programs at major California corporations.

Other council members include Sherry Lansing, chief executive officer at Paramount Pictures Corp.; Larry Luccino, San Diego Padres president; Donald G. Fisher, The Gap chief executive officer.

Studying at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Trena Emerson may be far from home, but the Winnetka resident continues bringing pride to her community through her ``can do'' attitude.

Selected as a 1993 Daily News Sunday Woman for ``making a unique contribution to the world around her,'' Emerson, 20, has turned some of her goals into realities beginning with her acceptance into the academy, where she is studying to be a pilot.

Now a sophomore, Emerson has earned merit pins for her expertise in flying, jumping, survival training and many hours in volunteer services in and around Colorado Springs, according to her mother Nancy Horrell.

A combination of Emerson's military grade point average, physical fitness and academic grade point average have also earned the Louisville High School graduate the distinguished Superintendent Pin award for her overall excellence.

``Live each day like it's your last, and with no regrets,'' Emerson offered when asked how others can reach for and obtain their goals.

``Any goal that you set can be reached it's just a matter of how bad you want it.''

MEMO: Do you have news in your neighborhood? If so, please send the information to Virginia Gonzalez, Daily News editorial department, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91365-4200. FAX: [phone].