CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Friday morning, the Big South Conference announced the Track & Field Athletes of the Week awards. Both the High Point men’s and women’s track and field teams sweep the awards. For the women, Dae’Nitra Hester was named the Track Athlete of the Week, Sydney Horn was named the Field Athlete of the Week and Quiana Williams was named the Co-Freshman of the Week. For the men, Graham Ferguson was named the Track Athlete of the Week, Justin Sluijter was named the Field Athlete of the Week and Tim Brown was named the Freshman of the Week.

At the Duke Twilight, Hester ran in the 200m and 400m events. She placed 10th in the 200m with a 24.17 time and placed fifth in the 400m with a 54.12 time. 

Horn competed at the Liberty Twilight on Tuesday and broke the program and Big South record with a 4.46m clear to lead all competitors with a first-place finish. Horn earned her third outdoor field athlete of the week award this season.

Williams ran in two events at the Duke Twilight, including the 100m and 200m dashes. She placed seventh in the 100m with an 11.58 time and placed 11th in the 200m with a 24.29 time. This is Williams’ fifth outdoor athlete of the week award this season.

At the Duke Twilight, Ferguson competed in one event and had an outstanding performance. In the 1500m, he clocked a 3:41.35 for a new personal best and program record which is now the third fastest time in Big South history. He placed 16th overall.

Sluijter won the long jump for the second-straight week with a leap of 7.53m at the Duke Twilight. He also recorded a distance of 57.96m in the javelin for eighth-place. Sluijter earned his third athlete of the week award this season.

Brown had a strong weekend at the Duke Twilight running in the 200m and 400m events. He took home first-place in the 400m with a 46.50 time to register and new program record. In the 200m he clocked a 21.37 time and placed 11th overall. Brown earned his third athlete of the week award this season.

High Point will prepare for the Big South Conference Championships in Asheville, N.C. hosted by UNC Asheville. The meet will begin on Monday, May 12 and continue through Wednesday, May 14.

#GoHPU x #DefendTheTeam

The Film Independent Spirit Awards, a cornerstone celebration of independent filmmaking, will move from its longtime Santa Monica home to the Hollywood Palladium for its 2026 ceremony, organizers announced Friday.

The awards show, which has traditionally been held in a beachside tent in Santa Monica, will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the historic Hollywood venue. The relocation ends a decades-long association with Santa Monica as the city undergoes significant infrastructure renovations.

“Following the celebration of 40 years of the Spirit Awards earlier this year, we are excited to have the opportunity to reimagine the Spirit Awards experience during a moment of tremendous growth and transformation for our organization,” said Brenda Robinson, Film Independent Acting President, in a statement released Friday.

Organizers cited ongoing renovations in Santa Monica as a factor in the venue change. The Hollywood Palladium, which opened in 1940 on the original Paramount lot, will serve as the new host site for the 41st annual ceremony.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Spirit Awards to the historic Hollywood Palladium,” said Shawn Davis, Executive Producer of the Film Independent Spirit Awards. “This move represents our continued evolution while staying true to our roots of celebrating fearless independent voices of film and television.”

The Spirit Awards have been a fixture in Santa Monica for decades, traditionally held the day before the Academy Awards. The ceremony serves as the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round initiatives supporting independent filmmakers.

Renovations mentioned by Film Independent refer to the city’s Pier Bridge Replacement Project. The project aims to replace the 84-year-old bridge that serves as the sole vehicular route to the Santa Monica Pier, one of the city’s most prominent tourist destinations.

According to city documents, the reinforced concrete structure was built in 1939 and carries millions of visitors annually from Palisades Park to the Santa Monica Pier and Beach. The primary purpose of the project is to provide “a seismically sound and functional bridge for the residents, pier businesses, and visitors ahead of the 2028 Olympics.”

The Santa Monica City Council certified the Pier Bridge Replacement Project Environmental Impact Report in June 2023 and approved the preferred bridge design, which includes a wider 15-foot sidewalk on the south side. Construction is expected to begin in Fall 2025 and take between 18-24 months, with completion targeted before the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

The Spirit Awards’ departure represents the second major film event to leave Santa Monica in recent months. The American Film Market (AFM), a premier entertainment industry event that had been held in Santa Monica since 1991, announced its relocation to Las Vegas for its 2024 program. The Independent Film and Television Alliance, which operates the festival, cited easier travel options and adjacent entertainment opportunities as factors in their decision.

Santa Monica officials have previously acknowledged the precarious nature of the city’s event business, with several councilmembers calling for an analysis of ways to make the city more attractive to events.

While Santa Monica has attracted other events like the Frieze art festival and the return of Cirque du Soleil, it also lost the Los Angeles Marathon, which moved its finish line from downtown Santa Monica to Century City in 2021 and more recently failed to secure an agreement with the Olympics to host Beach Volleyball. 

Kitty Malcolm Named 2025 Woman of the Year

Kathleen “Kitty” Malcolm has been named the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach’s 2025 Woman of the Year. She will be honored at a luncheon on Friday, June 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club clubhouse at 286 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach. “The Woman’s Club members nominate and vote for a woman from our community who has made a significant contribution—whether through philanthropic, civic, charitable, or nonprofit activities,” said Debbie Brown, president of the Woman’s Club. The annual award was first presented to Sande St. John in 1995. Malcolm will be the 29th recipient of the honor.

LBBC May Speaker: Mayor Alex Rounaghi

Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi is scheduled to speak at the Laguna Beach Business Club’s May 15 meeting on the state of the city. The LBBC holds monthly breakfast meetings starting at 7:30 a.m., featuring speakers who discuss valuable topics for achieving personal and professional success.

Club meetings begin with a buffet breakfast and a brief networking roundtable. Meetings are hosted at Nirvana Kitchen + Pantry, 303 Broadway St., #101, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Non-members are welcome. The non-member guest fee is $30, payable by Venmo or cash/check made out to the Laguna Beach Business Club on the day of the meeting. Space is limited, so guests should be sure to receive RSVP confirmation. For more information about the LBBC or to register to attend the meeting, please either visit our website at lagunabeachbusinessclub.com or write to us at Info@LagunaBeachBusinessClub.com.

Flourish and Bloom at Hortense Miller Garden

Artist Carole Boller, an award-winning artist from Laguna Beach, has created an informative and fun “Flourish & Bloom” Painting Workshop for tomorrow, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hortense Miller Garden. It’s fun and affordable, just $10 for materials and free if you bring your own supplies: acrylic colors: lemon yellow, cadmium deep yellow, cadmium orange, phthalocyanine blue, ultramarine blue, cadmium red deep, quinacridone rose, and white; canvas panel; brushes of your choice; palette knives; a palette; paper towels; and a container for water or turpentine if you’re working in oil. Carole Boller is a Laguna Beach festival and award-winning artist. Reservations can be made at hortensemillergarden.org.

Community Rallies Behind Beloved Water Polo Coach

A cornerstone of the Laguna Beach community was injured after being hit by a car while walking his two dogs. When the incident occurred, coach Chad Beeler was walking Penny and Kona on April 21. He sustained multiple injuries, including a broken clavicle. Sadly, his dog, Penny, was killed in the accident. 

“Chad has been a cornerstone of the Laguna Beach community for over 30 years. He’s taught, coached, and mentored generations of local kids—as a longtime Laguna Beach lifeguard, head of the Junior Lifeguard Program, coach for many LBHS water polo teams, director of Laguna Beach Water Polo Club, and the heart behind countless summer beach camps for our littlest locals,” his GoFundMe reads. “If you know Coach Chad, you know how much those dogs mean to him—they were always by his side, often making appearances on the pool deck and bringing smiles to all the young swimmers.” A GoFundMe was set up to help Beeler with unexpected costs and the loss of his dog. To donate, visit gofundme.com and search “Chad Beeler.”

Memorial Day Ceremony at Heisler Park to Honor Fallen Service Members

American Legion Post 222 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868 will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m. at Monument Point in Heisler Park. The event honors those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces across all wars and conflicts. Pastor Greg Munck, a retired Gulf War Marine, author, and co-founder of Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills, will be the keynote speaker. Local organizations and individuals will place floral offerings at the Heisler Park Memorial Monument as part of the ceremony. For more information, contact American Legion Auxiliary member Sandi Werthe at (949) 494-6016 or shworthy@cox.net.

Susi Q Seeks Donations Ahead of May Bargain Bonanza Fundraiser

The Susi Q Senior Center is preparing for its biannual Bargain Bonanza sale, set for Friday, May 16, from 8 a.m. to noon, and Saturday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The community event promises a wide variety of quality items at low prices, with proceeds supporting older adults and students. Organizers are currently accepting donations of new or gently used items including jewelry, tableware, purses, kitchenware, household goods, and collectibles. Please note that apparel, furniture, stemware and oversized items will not be accepted.

Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and noon, through May 15 at the Susi Q Senior Center, located at 380 Third Street in Laguna Beach.

Proceeds from the sale will purchase Bingo prizes for seniors and contribute to scholarships for Laguna Beach High School students.

For more information, contact Christine Brewer at christineb@thesusiq.org or call (949) 715-8105.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Back at the site of a national championship run, the University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team continued its quest for a third title with a four-set win over Penn State in the quarterfinals of the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship on Thursday at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio.
 
After trailing by eight early in the opening set, the second-seeded Rainbow Warriors roared back then held off the No. 7-seeded Nittany Lions on their way to a 25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23 victory.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (27-5) advanced to face UCLA (21-6) in a semifinal match on Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (2 p.m. Hawai’i Time). The Bruins swept Belmont Abbey in Thursday’s first quarterfinal match. UH and UCLA will add another chapter to their storied rivalry in their first meeting since the Bruins’ 3-1 win in the 2023 NCAA Championship final in Fairfax, Va.
 
UH freshman Finn Kearney led the Warriors with 16 kills and fired a season-high four aces, three coming in the opening set. Middle blockers Justin Todd and Kurt Nusterer combined for 17 kills on .667 hitting and were in on seven of UH’s 10 blocks.
 
Todd finished eight kills on 10 error-free attempts, including match point, and also contributed two aces and four blocks. Nusterer, a senior from Indianapolis, added nine kills on 14 swings while hitting .571 and had three blocks in his return to the Midwest.
 
Outside hitter Louis Sakanoko also had nine kills and delivered three aces, two coming in the fourth set to help the Warriors close out the match. All-America setter Tread Rosenthal distributed 38 assists and put away five kills of his own.
 

It’s official… we’re on to the semifinals#WarriorBall25 x #GoBows pic.twitter.com/RpUIwC5D4S

— Hawai’i Men’s Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) May 8, 2025

 
UH captured the 2021 NCAA crown in the Covelli Center and opened the program’s 10^th appearance in the national championship tournament with its second win over Penn State this season. The Warriors swept the Nittany Lions in the OUTRIGGER Invitational on March 14 and managed to fend off the upset bid in Thursday’s rematch.
 
Penn State scored the first six points of the match before Nusterer got UH on the board.  The Nittany Lions’ attack started 7 for 8 without an error and their lead grew to 11-3. Kearney turned the momentum with three aces in a 9-0 UH run to propel the Warriors to their first lead of the day. After UH opened up a three-point cushion, Penn State tied the set again at 17-17. But UH went on an 8-2 surge to pull away and closed out the set hitting .367 to Penn State’s .148.
 
Penn State took a 16-14 lead midway through the second set and built a 21-16 margin. The Nittany Lions led 23-18 after UH’s eighth attack error of the set. UH fought off two set points on kills by Nusterer and Kearney but Penn State finished off the set to even the match.
 
Penn State again took a lead early in the third set before UH moved ahead at 15-13 with a 5-1 run heading into the technical timeout. The Warriors edged ahead and took a 21-18 lead when Sakanoko landed an ace in front of the Penn State defense. The Nittany Lions answered back to tie the set at 22-22. After a Penn State attack sailed long, Rosenthal fired another ace to give UH set point. Penn State stayed alive for a point but Nusterer split the block for his sixth kill to end the set.
 

2 Sets pic.twitter.com/JuVE2DcNq5

— Hawai’i Men’s Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) May 8, 2025

 
The fourth set was again tight and Sakanoko pushed UH ahead at 18-17 with back-to-back aces. There were five ties before UH took a 23-22 lead on a Penn State error. Todd and Sakanoko then combined on a block that was upheld after a review to give UH match point. After a Penn State kill and a UH timeout, Todd hammered his final kill to close out the match.  
 

Todd called GAME! #WarriorBall25 x #GoBows pic.twitter.com/SdQ0rRl59M

— Hawai’i Men’s Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) May 8, 2025

 
Penn State’s Matthew Luoma led the Nittany Lions with a match-high 17 kills and Will Kuhns added 11 kills.
 

#HawaiiMVB