Lifeguard Of The Year Honored In San Clemente 2017

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — On Thursday, the San Clemente Exchange Club honored San Clemente Lifeguard Sina Riahi, awarding him with the 2017 Lifeguard of the Year award. The Exchange Club hosts this awards luncheon annually at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse.

Councilman Chris Hamm also presented Sina with a plaque and challenge coin on behalf of the City. The City hired Sina in the spring of 2013. He just completed his fifth summer as an ocean lifeguard. Sina graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelors of Science in Business Management, and graduated from the City College of San Francisco's Firefighter 1 Academy, both in spring of 2017. He serves on FEMA's disaster response team, and works as an Emergency Medical Technician in San Francisco during the off season. He grew up in Mission Viejo and is the inaugural recipient of the Ben Carlson Scholarship, and the recipient of San Francisco State University's President's Scholarship. Sina also served as a director on the Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors.

Sina volunteers with San Francisco Fire Department’s Toy Program, San Francisco State Disability Programs & Resources Center, San Francisco Neighborhood Emergency Response Team, and community educator for San Francisco Fire Department Public Safety Fairs. He is a member of the Berkeley Medical Reserve Corp and served as vice president/treasurer of the San Clemente Surf Lifesaving Association.

Sina’s hobbies include playing master's water polo, swimming, basketball, chess, running, training for Ocean Fest Events, and eating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos®. He is currently completing his Firefighter 1 internship with the City of San Francisco. Regarding the San Clemente Exchange Club award, Sina said, “I would like to thank my mother for everything she went through while raising me and my twin brother."

• Chad Schiel President of the SC Exchange Club
• Kelan O’Brien – Artist that presents the painting
• Rainbow Sandals – Jay Longley/Pat Huber
• BeachFire San Clemente – Barry Pierce
• Conrad Realtors, Inc. – Bob Conrad
• G’Day Surfboards – Greydon Day
• Rich’s Signs – Jim Richardson

(See picture of honoree Sina Riahi with Councilman Chris Hamm)