Awards & Recognition – Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District

Since 1951, the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District's mission has been:

In order to serve the diverse recreational needs of individuals and families and to enrich the quality of life for all residents, the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District is committed to providing park facilities, open space and programs and activities for all ages.

Our efforts and those of the clubs and organizations that we sponsor, have been recognized by local, statewide and national agencies. Following are some recent examples of our award-winning programs and organizations.

Soroptimist
Youth Recognition Night
On April 7, 2005, the Board of Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District nominated three outstanding youth at the Soroptimist Youth Recognition Night. Serina Tabara, Nicola Plowman and Caitlin McCormick.

The District was honored to win the June Harman Frisbie Award. This annual award is given each year to an member of the community who works closely with our young people. This year, The Soroptimist Club of Pleasant Hill presented Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District with the award in appreciation for co-sponsoring and providing the beautiful Parkside Room for the annual Youth Awards Night for many years. Accepted by Recreation Supervisor, Juli Gianti, the District was both proud and honored by the award.

Serina Tabara, ex-officio member of the board, maintains a 3.85 G.P.A. at CPHS and with her D.V.C. courses, a 3.93 G.P.A. She also scored high S.A.T. scores with the highest score possible in the Math portion. She is a member of the P.H. Teen Council and is active in scholastic and community events, including PTSA Leadership Representative, member of California Scholarship Federation (Vice President), Leadership, WASC Focus Group, Cross Country team for two years and Link Crew.

Nicola Plowman, maintains a cumulative G.P.A. of 4.13 and participates in several extracurricular activities such as Cross Country for four years, Track and Field for three years, Leadership, Youth in Government, piano lessons since elementary school, participated in the Certificate of Merit for Piano, Amnesty International (Publicity Chair in her Sophomore year and Treasurer for her Senior year), Link Crew, serves as Co-News editor for College Park’s Claw Newspaper. Nicola has volunteered as a member of the Pleasant Hill Teen Council for two years and is this year’s Publicity Chair, she has assisted with Vitas Hospice Care, Rodgers Ranch Round-up summer camp, the Band Boosters’ Crab Feed and helped serve three years at local schools and parks with her Cross Country team.

Caitlin McCormick maintains a 3.7 G.P.A. and participates in several extracurricular activities such as College Park’s Swim Team and Water Polo Team for four years and was honored to serve as the ’04 - ’05 Team Captain for Water Polo. She has been involved with Leadership, served as Junior-at-Large and Rally Commissioner. Caitlin has volunteered as a member of the Pleasant Hill Teen Council for seven years and was elected to share this year’s Council Chair, she has volunteered for several years planning, painting and acting in Pleasant Hill’s annual Haunted House and promoted the event at the CASA Fiesta. She chaired the local Muscular Dystrophy Holiday Gift Drive. Caitlin has participated for many years with 4-H Projects and numerous drama productions.

Congratulations to all of the winning youth in our community!

Grant from PH Community Foundation

Dodie Jones, Programs Supervisor for PH Recreation & Park District, gratefully accepts a grant award and check from Helen McLaren of the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation at the PHR&PD Board of Directors meeting on May 27, 2004.

The grant will support the Music In Pleasant Hill series of concerts produced by Community Concerts.

The Pleasant Hill Community Foundation made the award as part of their Spring campaign to support worthwhile community events.

Two More Statewide Awards

On May 8, 2004, two groups from Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District were honored with statewide awards from the California Association of Recreation & Park Districts (CARPD).

California's Most Outstanding Volunteers

Rita and Jim Utz

California's Most Outstanding Group

Pleasant Hill Dolfins Swim Team

Bob Berggren, General Manager of Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District congratulates Rita and Jim Utz on their award. The Utzs managed a successful fund raising campaign to restore the lights at the tennis courts at College Park High School – the area's only public tennis courts that are illuminated.

Bob Berggren congratulates members of the Pleasant Hill Dolfins Swim Team on their honor. Pictured left to right, Bob Berggren, Kerri Brumbaugh, President of PH Dolfins parents club, Dave Hazen (one of the primary builders of the Dolfins Snack Shack at the PH Education Center Pool), Lisa Ormond Secretary of PH Dolfins parents club, Glen Ormond and Griffin Ormond, members of the PH Dolfins swim team.

The Dolfins Swim Team and the parent club are an active and vital force in the community. In 2003, they logged some 5000 hours and raised $44,000 to promote athletic coordination through youth swimming, while enhancing self esteem, spirit and a sense of accomplishment. Read more about the Dolfins >>>

Please join us in congratulating these two teams for their dedication and commitment to improving our community. Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District applauds your efforts and truly appreciates the quality you bring to enhance our programs. Thank you!

Soroptimist
Youth Recognition Night
In April 2004, the Board of Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District nominated two outstanding youth at the Soroptimist Youth Recognition Night. Kaitlin Ebinger, ex-officio member of the board is a Junior at CPHS and a member of the P.H. Teen Council. She is active in scholastic and community events, logging over 200 volunteer hours.
Jeff Gibson, Senior at CPHS, is the editor-in-chief of the CPHS newspaper. He has participated two years in the County Final Mock-Trial Competition. In 2002, Jeff won Most Outstanding Boy award for academic achievement. PHR&PD salutes both Kaitlin Ebinger and Jeff Gibson.

Honors at Annual CPRS
District III Awards Banquet
Jim and Rita Utz were presented with a well-deserved Award of Excellence for Neighborhood/Community Life for their successful ”Let There Be Lights” campaign to restore lights at Pleasant Hill’s only illuminated public tennis courts. Jim and Rita worked for more than three years to raise funds to buy and install new lights on the tennis courts at College Park High School. With $40,000 matching funds from the District, the project was completed and the lights were turned on for the first time in September, 2003. At the ceremony, PHR&PD General Manager, Bob Berggren praised the Utzs for their hard work and perseverance to enhance community tennis.

The Pleasant Hill Community Foundation was presented with the Community Volunteer Award of Merit for its work in Pleasant Hill since 1987. The PH Community Foundation is a self-sustaining, non-profit organization devoted to building a financial foundation to serve the community. They present grants to community groups for programs and projects twice each year. Their three main priorities are to support: Cultural Arts; Health and Human-care Services; and Recreation Programs.

Award winners! PHR&PD Communication team members Andee O’Neill and Faye Donaghu join Jim and Rita Utz, winners for their Let there Be Lights campaign to illuminate the tennis courts at College Park High School.

The Pleasant Hill Dolfins were honored with an Award of Merit in the Recreation and Community Service – Youth Development category. Read more about this outstanding group on pages 24 and 25 of this issue of the Spare Time Spotlight, or click here.

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District earned two Agency Showcase Awards of Merit, for the Best Single Brochure – Spare Time Spotlight September - December 2003, and Best Special Program Brochure – Jumpstart the New Year… with a New You” fitness brochure.

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District is proud of the recognition earned by local volunteers, staff and residents, and is dedicated to its ongoing goal to provide excellent service to the community.

Pleasant Hill Community Awards Night

Congratulations to everyone honored on Wednesday November 19, at Pleasant Hill's 33rd Annual Community Awards Night.

Held at the PH Community Center, this year's event was well attended and a great success.

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District presented awards to the following outstanding members of the community.

Congratulations to our winners! Back row, left to right, Bud Botsford, Ted Fuller, Ted Winslow. Front row, Lorraine Botsford, Nicole Sasaki, Ellen Stevahn and Ernie Lanzarin.

Bud and Lorraine Botsford received the District's Board Appreciation Award for their outstanding volunteer efforts at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and other District events.Ted Winslow was awarded the District's Community Service Award for his long-running community involvement. Nicole Sasaki was named Teen of the Year for outstanding performance at school and in the community. Ted Fuller won the McLaren Cornerstone award for his exemplary service to the PH Community Foundation. Ellen Stevahn, founder of the Friends of Rodgers Ranch, was named Citizen of the Year. Ernie Lanzarin of the District's Park Maintenance Department was awarded the Community Plus Award for his dedication and many contributions to the community.

Helen Means Awarded AC5 Honor

Congratulations to Helen Means, founder of Onstage Theatre for being honored by AC5 on November 2 in Walnut Creek. AC5, Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County selected Helen as a champion of the arts -- for her longstanding contributions to the cultural life of Contra Costa County. Helen was one of five selected for the commission's 8th Annual Awards Ceremony.

Helen Means founded the Onstage Theatre in 1978. Since that time, she has contributed to the arts and culture of Contra Costa County as an excellent actress, director, and producer. This year, Onstage Theatre Company will celebrate its 25th anniversary, an important milestone in the history of cultural arts in Pleasant Hill and Contra Costa County.

Onstage Theatre is a member of the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District-sponsored Consortium with performances held in the School House Cultural Center, 2050 Oak Park Blvd. Helen is also one of our most popular instructors. Her course, Acting Basics, was just offered this Fall. Congratulations Helen from all of us at PHR&PD!

PH Community Foundation Awards Grants

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District was awarded two $1,000 grants from the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation as part of their Spring 2003 Grant Program.

The first award was presented to help refurbish the District's miniature train. The train is very popular with children and families and is used at community events to encourage participation in recreation. On July 4th, 2003, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District will unveil the updated train and announce the winner of the Name Our Train contest.

The second grant was presented to the Pleasant Hill Senior Center to help fund the purchase of a Digital Light Processing (computer) Projector. The Seniors plan to use the projector for presentations at trip meetings, Cultural Studies, and Travelers Classes. It will also be used to illustrate health presentations, community activities and services, and the Center's monthly movie program.

The Pleasant Hill Community Foundation awarded a total of ten grants to groups that work to serve the community. The Foundation is an important community partner that strengthens and brings our community together for events and actvities through funding. We appreciate their support. Read more on the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation's Spring 2003 Grant Program >>>

Board Chair, Sherry Sterrett Named State's Outstanding Board Member

At their awards ceremony on April 26th, California Association of Recreation & Park Districts (CARPD) awarded Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Board Chair, Outstanding Board Member for 2003.

Sherry has served on our Board of Directors for the past seven years, and has served our local community in elected offices for 23 years. Sherry considers it a profound honor to have been able to serve the community in three different public offices; the Mt. Diablo School Board, Pleasant Hill City Council, and the Board of Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District.

Sherry's focus on the concept of recreation, along with her outstanding commitment to giving back to the community is exemplary. She makes a point of being visible and accessible throughout the community at activities involving Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District. Her tireless efforts for fairness, clarity and focus are appreciated throughout the community from seniors to teens to special education participants. She ensures that the many issues of PHR&PD continue moving forward while she keeps people foremost in mind. We are proud of you Sherry! Congratulations and thanks from PHR&PD!

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Named Best in the State!

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District
CARPD's Outstanding Large Recreation and Park District for 2003

The California Association of Recreation & Park Districts selected Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District as Outstanding Large District at their awards ceremony on April 26, 2003.

The District was selected for the outstanding range of special events planned to bring the community together to share cultural. social. sporting and children or family-oriented activities and entertainment. This year there are more than 37 special events planned. Check out our special event page, and join us!