DELIVERING STANDOUT SERVICE ... Project Safety Net deserves a round of applause for its recognition as the Nonprofit of the Year in the 13th Senate District. The Palo Alto-based organization was formed over a decade ago as a youth mental health coalition in response to a cluster of student deaths by suicide. State Sen. Josh Becker, who represents the district that includes Palo Alto, praised the organization for its work on improving youth well-being in a June 8 statement. "Project Safety Net's collaboration with our community organizations, schools and local government has created a strong network of support and services to prevent teen suicides and nurture the mental health and wellness of young people," Becker said. In 2020, Project Safety Net became an independent nonprofit, according to Becker's office. It is among 109 nonprofits that were celebrated this year at the state Capitol. "We are elated and grateful to receive this distinction as a start-up nonprofit committed to serve north Santa Clara and south San Mateo counties," the Rev. Eileen Altman and Mary Gloner, Project Safety net's board chair and CEO, respectively, said in a thank you letter to Becker.

WISE WORDS ... On Saturday and Sunday, Stanford University held commencement ceremonies for the graduating classes of 2020 and 2022. Despite being separated by two years, both graduating classes share a common experience — losing a large chunk of their college experience to the pandemic. On June 11, the Class of 2020 celebrated its achievements in front of friends and family at a ceremony two years in the making. At that ceremony, commencement speaker and former NASA chief scientist France A. C?rdova emphasized the importance of going on unexpected career paths. Ten years after she received her bachelor's degree in English from Stanford, C?rdova completed her doctorate degree in physics at the California Institute of Technology. "There are no typical lawyers, there are no model doctors or model artists and no standard scientists," C?rdova said. On Sunday, the Class of 2022 was honored, though the ceremony was marked by the absence of Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, the keynote speaker. He tested positive for COVID-19 the day before the event. His remarks were still shared through a pre-recorded speech played at the event, which he attended via livestream. The Netflix CEO called on the graduates to pursue peace through inventions and stories — "one is about harnessing the natural world; the other is about harnessing the human spirit."

DRIVEN TO SUCCESS ... The world is getting another look at Stanford University's women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer through "Dream On," a new ESPN "30 for 30" documentary. The film debuted on Wednesday and captures the story of the 1996 U.S women's basketball team, which won gold at the Summer Olympics and became known as the Women's Dream Team. VanDerveer took a year off from Stanford to serve as head coach of the U.S. team, which helped bring the WNBA to life. "This team put women's basketball on the map in a way that no other team has," she said in a June 9 interview with "Good Morning America." "(It) was really the basis for the WNBA and the ABL (American Basketball League) at the time, and they just made tremendous sacrifices." The film features 25 original interviews and never-before-seen archival footage. "As we celebrate 50 years since Title IX was passed, there is no better time to share the journey of these hidden figures of basketball who opened the doors for future generations of athletes," documentary director Kristen Lappas said in an ESPN press release. "The story of this incredible team — one that won over its many skeptics — transcends sports and speaks to the human condition at large. I'm certain their story will win over audiences too."