NEWS

Sunnyvale, CA – Mayor Jack Walker announced the City of Sunnyvale’s annual awards for community and citizen achievement. The awards were presented at the State of the City event on Saturday, May 12, at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 East Remington Avenue. The event, "Building Community: Past, Present, and Future," included a barbecue and festival, along with the dedication of the new Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit, an open-air exhibit of Sunnyvale’s orchard heritage.

Nominees for the annual awards were received from a broad range of community organizations, businesses, schools, and citizens. The award selection committee was comprised of Sunnyvale citizens and business representatives appointed by Mayor Walker.

These awards recognize the value of individuals making a commitment to enhancing our community. "It was a challenge for the awards committee to make these selections with so many outstanding individuals contributing so selflessly to Sunnyvale’s community and quality of life," stated Walker.

The award categories and recipients are:

Joe Gutierrez was nominated for Distinguished Citizen of the Year for his "enthusiastic and tireless efforts" on behalf of the Orchard Heritage Park Project. His work on this project began in 1989, when, as a member of the Historical Society board, Joe spearheaded an effort to save a piece of our fast-disappearing orchard acreage. Joe became the leader of the Orchard Heritage Task Force and never stopped his tireless campaign to see his vision become a reality.

As his nominator said, "Joe’s contribution to this community will enrich all our lives for many, many years to come…we are fortunate to have someone of his vision, dedication and perseverance to turn this dream into a reality."

Jan is the personification of community volunteerism. She is the president of the Sunnyvale Historical Society, a member of the FISH board of directors, a volunteer at Our Daily Bread, a volunteer at Sunnyvale Community Service’s Christmas Store, and a member of the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit task force. She also is an active member of her church and maintains historical displays at five Sunnyvale schools.

Jan’s work in the Historical Society is noteworthy, particularly today as we celebrate our orchard heritage. As her nominator said, "she is the ongoing, inspirational spark to activate the Historical Society in helping citizens remember their roots." Leading by doing, Jan sets an example and is able to influence others to join her in working for the betterment of our community.

It is said that Jan’s personal life is scheduled around her volunteer obligations. The broad scope and impact of Jan’s volunteer efforts certainly qualify her to be Outstanding Community Volunteer of the Year for 2001.

Deborah Owens is the owner of Debbie Lyn’s Costumes. Debbie started her business in her garage after loaning costumes she made for her children to friends for Halloween and school plays. Debbie opened her store on El Camino Real in 1993 and she now has 14 full and part-time employees.

Debbie is a strong supporter of Sunnyvale in general and the business community in particular. She serves on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and helps annually with the Sunnyvale Community Services volunteer recognition program. Debbie was also active on the Celebrate Sunnyvale 2000 Committee.

As written in the nomination, "Debbie provides support for local small businesses as a mentor and through her activities with the Chamber and other professional groups. She willingly shares her experience, warns of the pitfalls of small business ownership, and celebrates her successes with one and all. If Debbie can help, she will….She is a role model for other business owners and an outstanding ambassador for the community in which she lives and works."

Outstanding High School Senior: Ryan Arba

Ryan is a senior at Saint Francis High School. Nominated by several people, his counselor summed it up, "service and participation are a significant part of Ryan Arba’s life."

Ryan has been involved in a broad array of activities. At Saint Francis he has served in student government as a class senator and homeroom representative. He has also been an active member of the Shadow Program, hosting potential freshman at the school, and is a board member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program that pairs freshmen with seniors. This is a new program, and according to his counselor, Ryan’s "leadership, as well as his energy, helped get it off to a successful start."

Although he has graduated from Resurrection, Ryan has returned as a football and basketball coach as well as an organizer of teen activities. He has taken a leadership role in the school’s Teen Ministry, helping to reinvigorate it. Ryan also contributes to the broader community, particularly those less fortunate, through activities such as the Giving Tree and food distribution.

Ryan has clearly balanced school, church and community service activities with great success. Rev. O’Connor from the Church of the Resurrection said that during nine years of teaching, "I have never found a more outstanding young man than Ryan."

Award of Excellence: Holly Lofgren

The Award of Excellence is a special award, given at the discretion of the Mayor, to recognize people or organizations that have made an extraordinary and unique contribution to this community.

Holly Lofgren, recipient of this year’s Award of Excellence, is the ultimate citizen advocate. She has made a unique contribution by leading the effort to build a community swimming pool at Fremont High School.

Holly seized the chance to make a difference - and she did. Leading a grassroots army of pool advocates, Holly convinced the City Council to partner with the high school district so the new pool the district was building would be bigger, better, and open to the public. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the community to have an olympic pool, and Holly made sure it did not slip by.

But Holly did not just stop with a political victory. Recognizing the fiscal implication to the City, Holly committed herself and the Friends of the Fremont Pool group to raise one million dollars to defray the operating costs of the pool. Holly has been fundraising tirelessly, with more than $700,000 raised to date.

Holly Lofgren has channeled her passion for swimming, and love for Sunnyvale, into concrete action that will leave a lasting mark on our community for generations to come.

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