State Sen. Joel Anderson saluted several dozen young community leaders Wednesday night as “the future of our country and our state,” telling the Patch 30-under-30 honorees: “I’d hire any of you.”
The East County Republican was among 60 people at a La Jolla reception for the young men and women, including grade-schooler Neil Mashruwala of Murdock Elementary School south of La Mesa and Helix Charter High School student Austin Harvell. (Neil invents iPhone apps and Austin is involved in the Lemon Grove HEAL Zone project.)
Neil was accompanied by his parents, as was Jenna Zeledon. The honorees appeared in Patch’s 30 Under 30 Community Leaders feature in October. Hoa Quách, associate regional editor, organized the project and fire pit-warmed outdoor reception sponsored by Roppongi, a sushi bar and Asian fusion restaurant on Prospect Street.
Chris Jennewein, Patch senior regional editor, introduced Anderson. Other Patch staff present were Regional Publisher Steve Suhrheinrich, Senior Advertising Manager Kristine Crail, Associate Regional Editor Ken Stone, La Jolla Patch editor Michelle Moward, Encinitas Patch editor Daniel Woolfolk and Coronado Patch editor Jennifer Vigil.