5 Chosen as Finalists for Fernando Award

Five San Fernando Valley residents representing a spectrum of community involvement from arts funding to crime fighting were selected Friday as finalists for the annual Fernando Award.

The announcement came during a luncheon at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City. A committee of Fernando Award board members, past award winners, benefactors and chamber of commerce representatives reviewed the qualifications of 15 nominees Friday before selecting the finalists.

Nancy Schmidt, vice president and manager of the Sherman Oaks branch of the American Pacific State Bank, won the honor last year. It carries no cash prize, but winners receive a trophy and their names are inscribed at the Van Nuys Civic Center.

Beginning what officials hope will become an annual tradition, Schmidt on Friday awarded the $1,000 Volunteerism Scholarship Award to a local student, Jennifer Schlesinger, a North Hollywood High graduate now at UC Berkeley.

The 1997 finalists are:

* Kenneth C. Banks Jr., of North Hollywood, an insurance broker active in the Rotary Club, the YMCA, several chambers of commerce and as a project consultant for the NoHo Arts District.

* Horace H. Heidt, of Sherman Oaks, president of an apartment complex in Sherman Oaks and entertainment consultant who is involved in Rotary Club and chamber of commerce activities and volunteers for City of Hope and Children’s Village USA.

* Walter W. Mosher Jr., of West Hills, founder and president of Precision Dynamics Corp. in Pacoima. The past president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. is a supporter of roughly two dozen Valley community programs.

* Philip A. “Flip” Smith, of Woodland Hills, owner of Flip’s Tire Center in Van Nuys and president of Mid Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is an anti-crime activist and organizer of youth programs.

* Terry York, of Agoura Hills, owner of Terry York auto dealerships, is a longtime volunteer in Encino, recipient of awards from the March of Dimes, American Cancer Assn. and Encino Lodge B’nai B’rith.

The 39th annual award will be presented at a dinner Nov. 7 in Warner Center. Information: (213) 229-5006.