Citizens from throughout Orange County gathered over the weekend at The Westin Hotel to celebrate the public and civic engagement of citizens and to raise funds for the Cypress College Foundation, the sponsor of the event.
(L-R) Cypress College President Scott W. Thayer; Cypress Mayor Scott Minikus; Jon Peat, Cypress College Foundation 49th Americana Awards Citizen of the Year for Cypress; and Curtis Scheetz, Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors President.
While the Cypress College Foundation’s purpose is to meet the needs of both students and campus, the Foundation is known for the annual Americana Awards. During Americana, the college’s major fundraiser, outstanding citizens from eight communities are honored as well as a Man and/or Woman of the Year. It’s through Americana that much of the financial support for the students and campus is raised.
Each year, the Foundation recognizes the accomplishments of prominent local citizens for their contributions to the community while, at the same time, engaging in several fundraising activities to provide scholarships and financial assistance to Cypress College students, according to the Foundation’s website.
(L-R) Cypress College President Scott W. Thayer; La Palma Mayor Marshall Goodman; Michele Steggell, Cypress College Foundation 49th Americana Awards Citizen of the Year for La Palma; and Curtis Scheetz, Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors President.
The 49th Annual Americana Awards a black-tie event and was held March 16 in Anaheim, sponsored by TEM and U.S. Bank.
According to the Cypress College Foundation, this year’s event honored Bobbie Stovall as the “Person of the Year,” followed by the following recipients of the “Citizens of the Year” from their respective communities.
• Jody Daily and Kevin Kidney, Anaheim
• Elizabeth “Beth” Swift, Ed.D., Buena Park
• Jon Peat, Cypress
• Joe Hammer, Garden Grove
• Michelle Ateggell, La Palma
• Shelli Appling, Los Alamitos
• Greg and Kathy Fellers, Seal Beach
• Rigoberto Ramirez, Stanton
For additional information, visit www.americanaawards.org.