Four Tracy firefighters participated in the 19th annual Fire Fighter Stair Climb Challenge on March 7 in Seattle.

Engineer Ryan Gall, firefighter Brian Hicks, engineer Ben Moreno and Capt. Pat Vargas raced up a 74-story building in downtown Seattle in full gear to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They raised more than $500 for the cause.

This is the second year Tracy has taken part.

Lieutenant named employee of the month

Lt. Jeremy Watney was named Tracy’s Employee of the Month for March.

Watney has worked in law enforcement 23 years and joined the Tracy Police Department in 2008.

His co-workers nominated him because of his exemplary work ethic and positive attitude.

Brothers serve missions in Brazil, Peru

Matthew Johnson, 19, recently received his mission call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He departed Feb. 16 and will return in 2012. Johnson graduated from Tracy High School in 2008 and is learning Portuguese at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Idaho.

Scott Johnson, 21, recently returned from serving his mission in Arequipa, Peru. He spent time proselytizing, teaching English and performing hours of service to help the people of Peru. Johnson graduated from Tracy High School in 2006 and will return to Brigham Young University in April to complete a degree in biology.

The brothers are the sons of Brad and Debbie Johnson.

Delta Charter students qualify for state competition

Six students from Delta Charter High School qualified for the Yosemite Forensic League state speech and debate tournament April 16 through 18 at Bakersfield City College.

Sheelah Bearfoot, William Hanson, Stacia Henry, Elizabeth Nadeau, Melissa Pacheco and Kayla Reeves competed against students from Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Solano counties.

Local students take top honors at regional science competition

Tracy High School placed second in Division C, Freiler School placed second in Division B and Williams School placed third at the regional Science Olympiad competition March 6. All three schools qualified for statewide competition April 17 in Fresno.

Freiler students took home 12 medals in the school’s sixth straight year qualifying for the state contest.

• Accolades runs in Our Town whenever we hear about someone who has done something extraordinary and deserves kudos for it. If you have news for Accolades, send it to tpourtown@tracypress.com, or drop off a note at the Tracy Press office.