La Jolla moms among ‘San Diego’s 50 Best’ Four La Jolla-area moms were honored May 8 at the “San Diego’s 50 Best Moms” essay contest luncheon, sponsored by Time Warner Cable. Maria Acker, Kristina Nava, Linda Villalobos and Anne Wallace were among 3,500 San Diego County moms whose children submitted essays on the question “Why do you think your mom is one of San Diego’s 50 best?” All 50 honorees were treated to an engraved award, a walk down the red carpet and gifts from local businesses. UCSD alum nominated for Tony award Jim Lewis, MFA ’86 dramaturgy alum of the University of California, San Diego Theater and Dance Department, has been nominated along with Bill T. Jones for a Tony award in the Best Book of a Musical category for his work on the Broadway musical “FELA!” The musical, which is based on the life and music of Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti, received a total of 11 Tony award nominations. Production nominated for Tony Awards The Broadway production of “Memphis,” a musical that originated at the La Jolla Playhouse during the 2009-10 season, has received eight Tony Award nominations. The production, which is set in the underground dance clubs of Memphis, Tenn. in the 1950s, garnered nominations for Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Christopher Ashley) and Best Original Score (music: David Bryan; lyrics: Joe DiPietro and David Bryan), as well as nods for acting, costume design and other musical accomplishments. Students attend Junior Model U.N. Sixteen eighth- and ninth-grade students from The Bishop’s School participated in the San Diego County Junior Model United Nations Conference on May 19-20 at the University of California, San Diego. The students represented France, the Sudan and South Korea on multiple U.N. committees, exploring topics such as disarmament, conflict resolution, children’s rights and health issues. Freshman Frances Chen received an award at the event as the outstanding delegate on Third Committee, and other students won commendations for their performance and research. Claude ZoBell to be honored at Scripps The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will honor late scientist Claude ZoBell, a marine microbiology pioneer and former Scripps Institution of Oceanography researcher, at a ceremony May 22 at Scripps Oceanography’s Sumner Auditorium. At the ceremony, ASM will designate Scripps as a “Milestones in Microbiology” site and will provide the institute with a plaque honoring ZoBell, which will be affixed to Hubbs Hall, the site of his laboratory. Performing Arts Academy adds coach/counselor Michelle Hoines-Little has joined the Scripps Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) as both a mental health coach and volunteer bereavement specialist. In her professional role, Hoines-Little will work with SPAA students in one-on-one and group sessions to explore topics such as goal setting, life challenges, self-confidence and image. In her volunteer role, Hoines-Little will help organize the annual Art with Heart Walk to benefit SPAA’s charity, Isabella’s Giraffe Club, which provides education and support to families with newborns in the UCSD Neonatal Intensive Care unit. Hoines-Little will also offer bereavement counseling to parents who have lost their newborn children. Local lands Distinguished Teaching Award Sam Popkin, Ph.D., a La Jolla native, has received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of California, San Diego. The political science professor will be honored at the UCSD Alumni Association’s annual Awards for Excellence celebration June 5. LJ YMCA volunteers, staff honored Volunteers and staff members of La Jolla YMCA received recognition at YMCA of San Diego County’s Annual Meeting and Awards program on May 13 in Point Loma. The La Jolla branch received the President’s Award for the largest increase in donations over the previous year (6 percent) and the Association Award for outstanding overall achievement among the county’s 18 YMCA branches. Staff and volunteers were also recognized for their record-setting effort during the organization’s annual support campaign; the group raised a total of $425,000 in donations. In addition, volunteer Jack Reagan received The Golden Triangle of Distinguished Service Award, the county YMCA’s highest recognition, for his 20 years of service with the organization. Woman to volunteer in Ireland Former La Jolla resident Meghan Houlihan has joined PeacePlayers International (PPI), an international nonprofit organization that uses basketball to unite children in divided communities in South Africa, Northern Ireland, Israel and the West Bank, and Cyprus. Houlihan played basketball for Yale University, and she will use her skills to coach teams of young girls in Northern Ireland in an effort to bridge the gap between Catholics and Protestants. Houlihan received the Ron and Kathryn Shapiro Family Fellowship to support her two-year stay. The award will provide all of her living expenses during her volunteer trip. Scripps La Jolla nurse wins prestigious award Lisa Breedlove has been named the 2010 Nurse of the Year for Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. She began her career at Scripps 24 years ago and currently works as the bedside nurse on the nightshift in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, where she has earned a reputation for her compassionate palliative and end-of-life care capabilities. Breedlove was the first nurse at Scripps La Jolla to obtain her End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium certification.