SHERMAN TAPS 27 FOR MILITARY SCHOOLS.

Byline: DIANA PEYTON Community columnist

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills, has nominated more than two dozen local high school students as candidates to West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy.

A presidential, senatorial or congressional nomination is required of all candidates to have the opportunity to graduate as an officer, and nominees are hopeful that they will be accepted into their selected schools.

``The military has never been a safe occupation. It is clear that there are particular targets we may be focused on in the next year or two, while these young people are still in the academy,'' Sherman said.

``I admire these young people for their willingness to serve their country,'' the congressman said.

Students must display outstanding academic achievement, and be involved in their communities.

The following are West Point nominees: Matthew Carlson, Scott Wyly and Richard Harding, from Thousand Oaks; Alexander Chien, Oak Park; Kevin Cornwell, Agoura; Peter Kim, Chatsworth; Sally Mills, Malibu; Stephen Milton, Woodland Hills and David Naish, Westlake Village.

Nominees to the U.S. Naval Academy are: John Carnes and Justin Chamberlain, Woodland Hills; Alethea Espino, West Hills; Phillip Shapiro, Westlake Village; Jonathan Lim, Agoura; Dhruv Parashar, Thousand Oaks; Jacob Seror, Hidden Hills; and Shallia Saptoro and Joshua Straume from Canoga Park.

Candidates to the Air Force Academy are:Kedem Alon of Woodland Hills; Michael Blackwell-Tompkins, Malibu; Andrew Chain, Encino; Joseph Dillon, West Hills; Michael Krestyn, Thousand Oaks; Ryan McFadyen, Agoura; Joseph Ngo, Canoga Park; and Weixi Yen, West Hills.

Evan Hess, from Westlake Village, is a nominee for the Air Force Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Several people were recognized on Feb. 26 for improving the quality of life in Calabasas at the annual Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Appreciation Day held at the Agoura Hills-Calabasas Community Center.

Citizen of the Year was given to Roberta Havens; Community Volunteer-Civilian Volunteer was awarded to Alan Turek; and Civilian Employee Law Enforcement Technician of the Year was given to Gloria R. Ferra.

Other honorees are: Robert DeSantis, vital intervention and directional alternative deputy of the year; Sgt. Kevin B. Mauch, traffic deputy of the year; Sgt. Phil E. Morris, juvenile intervention team deputy of the year; Mark A. Borges, detective of the year; and Kevin P. Duncan, patrol deputy of the year.

Sheriff Lee Baca attended the event.

A college administrator and several local students have been singled out for achievement.

Moorpark College Vice President Eva Conrad has been awarded the Leadership Award for Administrative Excellence from the Association of Community College Administrators.

Rebecca Jefferson of Valley Village will attend the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 19-23.

New additions to college dean's lists include Nicholas Lamb of Northridge who attends Merimack College in North Andover, Mass., and Nicole M. de Brauwere of Agoura who attends Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.

Bethany Freda Hillmer of Simi Valley and Dean Morris Scott from Rosamond are on the president's honor roll at Oklahoma Baptist University, and Adrian Gascon of Oxnard is named on the dean's honor roll.