A Salt Lake school principal, a humanitarian organization and four Utah County residents were presented awards Wednesday by the Utah Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
Honored at a "We Believe in Heroes" luncheon in Little America Hotel were: Rosemary W. Baron, principal at Northwest Middle School; CHOICE, which stands for Center for Humanitarian Outreach and Intercultural Exchange; Wayne Spence, Provo; Art E. Berg, Highland, Utah County; Hance Olsen, Orem; and Orrin Olsen, Alpine, Utah County.Baron was honored for " . . . helping thousands of youngsters find their way to stable adolescence and adulthood . . . for caring deeply about children and education."
Last year she was presented the Jon Huntsman Excellence in Education Award. Northwest Middle School was named a Utah Centennial School for three consecutive years and was twice named a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School. Baron was singled out for her support of faculty, for her love of students and regular communication with youths and their parents.
CHOICE was founded by Dr. Timothy Evans, a Utah dentist and founder of the Andean Children's Foundation. Chapter officials say he recognized the need to also improve health care and education in other nations.
This year more than 400 volunteers, students, doctors, teachers, business leaders, retired persons, engineers and housewives, will serve humanitarian expeditions to eight nations. They will build schools and clinics, dig wells, teach children to read and write, conduct hygiene training and provide medical care and other services.
Others besides Evans who were cited for their work with the organization are James B. Mayfield, chairman of the board, and Carolyn G. Dailey, executive director.
Orrin Olsen and Hance Olsen, an uncle and nephew, were honored for their efforts in rescuing Tom Swan, of Orem, from a pickup truck that spun out of control on an icy road and rolled down an embankment last November near Deer Creek Reservoir. The vehicle landed upside down in the cold water of Wallsburg Creek.
Hance Olsen, who was a redshirt freshman on the Brigham Young University football team last year, and his uncle were fishing at the time. They rushed to the vehicle and were able to pull Swan through a broken window and to get his head above water. Swan escaped with only a scratched elbow and a sore back.
The rescuers were cited for " . . . acting without concern for their own safety, for using their physical and mental skills without hesitation and for instinctively reacting to a life-threatening circumstance."
Berg, a quadriplegic who was injured in a 1983 accident in Nevada, has made a successful comeback despite his injuries. He travels hundreds of miles each year as a wheelchair athlete. He also skis, competes in wheelchair rugby, has written two books and was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year for a six-state region in 1992.
He was cited for "overcoming the many challenges of adversity, for turning personal tragedy into a positive teaching model, for helping thousands deal productively with their own discouragements, for being an example to all of us, regardless of physical abilities . . ."
Spence, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, was recognized for patriotic deeds, including regular display of the American flag and for organizing and marching in parades. He also performs volunteer service.