Meet 18 people, groups making a difference in Gilbert
- The Gilbert Community Excellence Awards are Friday
- The ceremony is at Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix-Gilbert SanTan Elegante Conference %26 Reception Center
- Read more at gilbertaz.com
On Friday, Nov, 14, the 19th annual Gilbert Community Excellence Awards will honor 18 people or groups who make the town a better place.
They are the teachers, the HOA members, the history buffs and the volunteers who care about Gilbert. They're being honored by the Gilbert Public Schools, the Higley Unified School District, the Chandler-Gilbert Community College, the town, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and the Gilbert Republic.
San Tan Ranch Homeowners Association
Award: Neighborhood of the Year.
San Tan Ranch includes 1,803 homes located off Higley and Pecos roads. The community has completed enhancement projects and has reached out to owners to provide solutions to delinquent assessments, assist with hard work and help the homeless. The association plans regular events for neighbors to come together.
Marc Skocypec
Award: Public Service.
Skocypec came to the Gilbert in 2003 and in 11 years as deputy town manager has become a mentor and coach to other staff. He responds to community needs with thoughtful leadership and professionalism.
Gilbert Feeding Families Committee
Award: Municipal Volunteer.
Town staff member Ian Millar organized a food drive that raised more than 1,000 meals in 2010. With support from the Communications Department, he branded the effort and formed the Gilbert Feeding Families Committee. The group came up with creative ways to raise 72,600 meals through events and activities, but exceeded that goal by raising 114,586 meals this past summer.
Dale Hallock
Award: Mayor's Award.
Hallock, while serving as mayor in the 1970s, oversaw the annexation of over 50 square-miles of land which gave Gilbert space to become one of the fastest growing communities in the country. Today, he volunteers at the Gilbert Historical Museum, writes a weekly history column for the Gilbert Republic and serves as a trustee emeritus for the Gilbert Historical Society.
Logan Carson
Award: Young Hero.
Logan was diagnosed with strep in 2012, which led to the loss of his right leg below the knee, his right eye and four fingers. A nurse spoke to him about Make-A-Wish and Logan quickly created a plan for a wish playground. Make-A-Wish Arizona met Logan in 2013, and with contributions from companies and more than 200 volunteers, they worked to make his vision a reality.
Debra Williams
Award: GPS Educator Award.
Williams has dedicated more than 31 years to education and is an asset to Ashland Ranch Elementary School. She inspires her students to be better writers and trains staff to become better facilitators in the art of writing.
Toni O'Dell
Award: GPS Support Staff.
O'Dell makes the Highland High School office a positive experience for students, parents, faculty and staff. She faces a problem, analyzes it and quickly moves to a solution. She faced medical concerns this past year, and while she remained conscientious about her work, everyone realized the importance of her daily duties.
Sunny McMahan
Award: GPS Volunteer.
McMahan holds a car show at Desert Ridge High School each January that requires months of planning. She donates all the proceeds — usually about $5,000 — to one of the school's sports teams or clubs.
Shubhra Khan
Award: Higley Educator Award.
Khan's students at Cortina Elementary School score at the top of the district in reading and math on the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards. She teaches organizational, motivational and behavioral skills so that students continue to succeed as they move forward.
Michelle Cadiz
Award: Higley Support Staff.
Cadiz possesses the values of Higley Traditional Academy and understands that each person who touches a student's life is important to their success. She is a dedicated staff member, a parent and and active member of the Parent Teacher Organization.
Melodie Coons
Award: Higley Volunteer.
Always willing to help, Coons handles projects with a contagiously positive attitude. From field trips to coordinating the school's Art Masterpiece program, there is no project too big or small for Coons at San Tan Elementary School.
Ted Wolter
Award: Chandler-Gilbert Community College Educator Award.
As the founding art faculty, Wolter shaped the art program and shepherded it through growth and change. The responsive and thoughtful communicator serves as a mentor and role model to new and seasoned faculty. A working artist, he regularly exhibits his work, organizes student art shows and maintains the college's permanent art collection.
Linda Shaw
Award: CGCC Employee Award.
Shaw, the director of admissions, registration, and records, is known for her knowledge and a focus on students. Her work on committees benefits thousands of students. Shaw maximizes resources to plan and execute quality training and she finds innovative ways to serve and inform her colleagues.
Dr. Robert Brown
Award: Beautification.
Dentist Robert J. Brown fell in love with a 1936-era home and the small-town feel of downtown Gilbert. He purchased the property at 26 N. Gilbert Road, renovated it and relocated his practice from a neighboring community. Brown restored the bungalow-style home to how it might have looked nearly a century ago. His investment contributes to the burgeoning popularity of Gilbert's Heritage District.
Town of Gilbert Fire & Rescue Volunteers
Award: Geneva Clay Volunteer.
Gilbert's Fire & Rescue volunteer program began 10 years ago and now includes more than 145 trained and credentialed volunteers. The program includes 21 different types of volunteer posts, from chaplains who offer comfort to community assistance team members who might drive shaken up car accident victims home. The volunteers donated 22,304 hours at a value of more than $500,000 last year.
Dignity Health – Mercy Gilbert Medical Center
Award: Spirit of Business.
The medical center delivers compassionate, quality and affordable healthcare. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center contributed more than $16million in community benefit last year and reached more than 30,500 people through community education and health services as well as local grant programs and benefit operations.
Dr. Denise Birdwell
Award: Visionary Award.
Birdwell became superintendent of the Higley Unified School District in 2007 as the district was feeling the pains of rapid growth. As a visionary leader in academic achievement, Birdwell implemented language development of Mandarin K-12, blended learning opportunities, one-on-one technology and learning center opportunities. The district has been named Best Place to Work and recently was named the No. 1 Large Public School District in the state.
Kevin DeRosa
Award: Leon Uhlhorn Chairman's Award.
DeRosa, with Advance Paper & Maintenance Supply, served as the Chamber's Chairman of the Board during significant change. His leadership strengthened partnerships with the town, schools and others. He represented the Chamber at more than 140 meetings and ribbon cuttings this past year and meets one-on-one with members to learn their stories and identify opportunities to help them grow.