The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Iowa will go to my dearest friend and “Queen of the Lot” co-star Tanna Frederick next year, for an amazing life of achievement post her college years. She beat out Ashton Kutcher and other alumni for the honor. “Thanks, Tommy, I am so appreciative of this. I loved my years in Iowa and I am proud to say that I attended the University of Iowa, and am still grateful for the confidence and the education they instilled in me. I truly believe it’s helped me in my life thus far, and I hope to continue making them as proud as I am of the school,” said Frederick.

This award is granted to University of Iowa graduates or former students for significant accomplishments in business or professional life or for distinguished human service to their community, state, or nation. What’s next for Frederick? There is much chatter in Tinseltown about her budding film career, and she’s still wowing audiences in “Sylvia,” directed by the legendary Gary Imhoff at the famed Edgemar Theatre for the Arts in Santa Monica.

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Project Save Our Surf 2011 from UFA Films.

Just south of Tower 28 at the Santa Monica Pier, TV celebrities and world-renowned professional surfers joined surfing legend Shaun Tomson and actress, surfer, and founder of Project Save Our Surf Tanna Frederick to raise $50,000 for our clean ocean and clean water beneficiaries.

There were 10 teams of 24 surfers, competing in 45-minute heats. Each surfer showed off their “mad skills,” with the celebs holding their own against the pros.

Santa Monica Bay has never experienced more fun, enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and—more importantly—dedication to its aliveness than the weekend of Oct. 15 and 16. The waves, although friendly, were challenging enough for the day’s event.

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The fourth annual Project Save Our Surf event took place this past weekend on the beach of Santa Monica. The celebrity surfathon benefited Santa Monica Baykeeper, Waves for Water, Inside the Outdoors and Tumelo Home. Artists on Demand was invited to attend day two of this amazing event.

A surfer relies on many things while surfing – the size of the waves, the wax on the board, the balance, when timing the “pop-up,” and many other elements.

Quality of the water is something that may not cross the minds of many, but is essential for a surfer.

The fourth annual Project Save Our Surf (S.O.S) reached out this past weekend Oct. 15, 16, to the citizens of Santa Monica and adjacent areas, bringing awareness to Santa Monica Bay’s poor health collaborating with celebrities, pro surfers, and first-time surfers.

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This is VERY exciting. I was going to take pictures with my little cheesy digital camera but I roped photographer Andrea Ross-Greene into giving me some really good photos.

First of all, the weather was beautiful. I understand that on Saturday, the surf was really hard to surf in (and this came from the pros), but on Sunday, I’m told it was great. And it’s a good thing because on Sunday, they had a group for first-time surfers and I loved seeing people try it for the first time. I could tell that one woman was hooked immediately.

The event was very well organized. Congrats to Rachel Stotts, president of Project Save Our Surf and her team. There were lots of volunteers (including Tanna’s parents Nancy and David Frederick, who are VERY nice people) and everything seemed to be running very smoothly.

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The fourth annual Project SOS: Surf 24 aims to keep the coast clean.

Celebrity surfers and professional surfers alike took advantage of the big waves off Santa Monica Beach on Saturday and Sunday for the fourth annual Project SOS: Surf 24, a celebrity surfathon that aims to keep the coast clean.

The event, organized by Tanna Frederick’s Project Save Our Surf, also featured eco-friendly exhibits, guest speakers, live music, mural-painting with Joanne “Art Miles” Tawfilis and yoga.

Twelve teams featuring 24 participants apiece took part in surfing contests, with each team member surfing for 45 minutes. Team members were encouraged to raise $500 each, with all the proceeds going to four charities: Santa Monica Baykeeper, Waves for Water, Inside the Outdoors and Tumelo Home. Prizes were awarded to the individuals and teams who raised the most money.

Celebrity surfers included Ted Dubrawski (rock band Acidic), Eddie Hassell (The Kids Are Alright), Kasey Kahl (The Bachelorette), Michael Munoz (Amazing Race), Michael Rady (The Mentalist) and Jesse Spencer (House).

Pro surfers included Don Bigelow, Trae Candy, Courtney Conologue, Erin Edwards, Jesse Faen, Buttons Kaluhiokalani, Mary Osborne, Chuck Patterson, James Pribram, Angie Reno, Jon Rose, Dougie Tanaka Jr., Jesse Timm and PT Townend.

BEVERLY HILLS—This week in The Hills I caught up with my “Queen of the Lot” co-star Tanna Frederick, who decided to miss a morning surfing in order to visit me, so I decided to ask the “Twilight” film fan, who loves the films, thinks the director is a genius and all of the actors and characters are awesome. I’ll be attending the exclusive red carpet celebrity premiere next month of “Breaking Dawn Part I,” which is why I decided to find out from Tanna what she hopes will transpire in this sequel, and as normal, she never bores anyone with her opinions. The stunner, who also stars in the title role of “Sylvia” at the Edgemar Theater in Santa Monica is quickly getting Tony Award buzz for her amazing performance with such an incredible cast, led by my friend Gary Imhoff, who is nothing short of a genius.

Come on over to Beverly Hills and catch up with “Breaking Dawn” and Tanna Frederick news. Don’t you think she’d be a perfect fit for the sexy sophisticated and earthy Cullen family in Forks, Washington, where the werewolves and vampires have a real war ahead, fighting over the love of Bella? Anyhow, here is (terrific, talented) Tanna Frederick in her own words.

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MASON CITY — Plans are being made for an independent film titled “The Farm” to be shot in North Iowa next fall.

The project is part of Project Cornlight, an initiative launched by Mason City native Tanna Frederick, who is now a Hollywood actress.

Project Cornlight is aimed at developing Iowa- based films and other projects that showcase Iowa talent and producing at least one independent film in Iowa per year.

October 12, 2011 — Project Save Our Surf will hold its Fourth Annual Project SOS: SURF 24 this weekend, a celebrity “surfathon” to benefit organizations that take care of surfers’ habitat – the water.

Last year’s Project Save Our Surf team. Photo courtesy of Deanna Despot

The event will field teams of celebrity, professional and “civilian” surfers to raise money for Santa Monica Baykeeper and other nonprofits who help steward the health of the planet’s oceans and drinking water.

Local actress and activist Tanna Frederick (currently onstage at the Edgemar Center Theatre in A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia”) founded Project SOS five years ago, shortly after taking up surfing.