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Bravo for these residents’ service to country, community and remembering

March 30, 2026

Sculptor selected for Armenian genocide memorial

The Orange County Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee announced a major milestone in the creation of its memorial. Sculptor Brittany Ryan has been formally selected as the memorial’s artist.

Ryan, who is Orange County based, will begin the conceptual design phase of the memorial, including the preparation of detailed sketches and a 12-inch maquette. The proposed sculpture will depict a mother holding a small child, with cranes in flight around them, symbolizing survival, memory, protection, and the transmission of life and history across generations.

Orange County Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee members pose with sculptor Brittany Ryan at her studio. From left are Hagop Badolian, chair, Armenian Revolutionary Federation; Armen Karo Gomideh; Fr. Karekin Bedourian, priest, Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church; Greg Mikhanjian, secretary, Orange County Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee; Arlette Madenlian, Memorial Design Committee member; Stephanie Oddo, Laguna Niguel City Council member; Dr. Kev Abazajian, president, Orange County Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee; Brittany Ryan, sculptor; and Garo Madenlian, chair, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S. Central Committee.
(Courtesy of Orange County Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee)

Petty Officer 2nd Class Danu Pham of Santa Ana joined the Navy two and a half years ago. Today, he serves as a builder in Oklahoma City and supports the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission at Strategic Communications Wing One (STRATCOMMWING ONE). Its “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) mission provides airborne communication links to nuclear missile units of the U.S. Strategic Command. The Navy’s presence on an Air Force base in a landlocked state may seem strange, but the position is strategic, allowing squadrons to quickly deploy around the world in support of the TACAMO mission.
(Courtesy of Mass Communication Spec. 1st Class Justin Johndro)

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The memorial is planned for installation in the Heart of the Park at the Irvine Great Park, where it will serve as a permanent place of remembrance, reflection and education for the broader community.

Ryan is an award-winning sculptor who lives and works in Southern California and has exhibited widely with museums, galleries and art associations. She received first place in sculpture at the Portrait Society International Competition (2021), the Gold Medal Award at the National Sculpture Society’s 87th annual Awards (2020), and was juried into the California Art Club Gold Medal Show.

Ryan is currently completing a Marine Corps War Memorial for the city of Laguna Hills, and she previously created the large-scale bronze installation “Canyon Walkers” at Laguna College of Art and Design. Since 2014, she has served as sculpture department coordinator and instructor at the college.

“My goal is to create work that lives in the space between narrative and poetry – figures that are not idealized, but deeply human, carrying identity, intention and emotional truth,” Ryan said. “For this memorial, I hope to create a sculpture that invites empathy and solidarity, that allows viewers to feel the strength, grief and resilience embodied in a mother protecting her child, and to sense where these figures are going and what propels them forward. Ultimately, I want the work to foster understanding, connection and remembrance across generations.”

– Submitted by Orange County Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentors of the Year winners

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & the Inland Empire has released the winners for its 2026 Mentors of the Year. The outstanding individuals were selected for the honor from the agency’s Community, High School Bigs and Workplace Mentoring programs.

The special recognition celebrates the contributions of the organization’s Bigs and highlights the resiliency of its Littles, reinforcing the enduring impact that mentorship can have on a young person, volunteer and community.

The Orange County winners for the community category are Jessica Lam and Yaitza Araujo, as well as Ian and Durrah Wagner and Emiliano Hernandez.

Orange County winners for the High School Bigs category are Tram Nguyen from Buena Park High School and Christian Hernandez from Western High School.

Orange County winners for the Workplace Mentoring category are Jennifer Wiegman from Ingram Micro and Simir Shaw from Google.

Community mentors are evaluated on providing guidance, support and inspiration; helping mentees reach their goals and transition into college; and shaping the next generation of leaders.

High school mentors are selected with a focus on the mentor as a leader and the impact they have had on their mentee, campus and community. Workplace mentors have made a significant and identifiable impact on their mentees college and career readiness.

Winners in each category will be recognized at special awards events in the spring.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & the Inland Empire is a nonprofit organization that matches underserved youths and young adults with mentors to improve outcomes like growth and development, education, and social and economic opportunity in the community.

Learn more at ocbigs.org.

– Submitted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & the Inland Empire

The Shea Center honors the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo

The Shea Center recently hosted a dedication of a flagpole and tribute plaque that celebrates the support of the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo. The dedication event honored the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo’s long-standing support of The Shea Center and other south Orange County nonprofits through the RMV Rodeo proceeds.

Attending were Rancho Mission Viejo executives Tony Moiso, chairman and CEO; Jeremy Laster, president; Gilbert Aguirre, executive vice president of ranch operations; Lissa Freese, senior vice president of ranch operations; and Brent Freese, along with Shea Center staff and leadership.

Through generous donations of rodeo proceeds, Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo has helped fund therapeutic horse-related programs that improve the lives of people with disabilities.

“Their generosity has ensured that individuals of all abilities can experience the profoundly impactful therapeutic horse-related programs we offer thousands of children and adults each year,” said The Shea Center CEO Dana Butler-Moburg. “We celebrate our many years of support from the rodeo and are grateful for the commitment by the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo to children and adults with disabilities.”

– Submitted by The Shea Center

The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.

Bravo for these residents’ service to country, community and remembering Orange County Register

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Bravo for these residents’ service to country, community and remembering

Sculptor selected for Armenian genocide memorial

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentors of the Year winners

The Shea Center honors the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo

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