The 16th annual Hats Off to Volunteers ceremony was held on Saturday morning in the Rancho Bernardo High School Performing Arts Center.
Each of this year’s 55 honorees was presented a hat recognizing them as an “outstanding volunteer” along with resolutions from elected leaders at various levels of government.
The ceremony is held each April during National Volunteer Month. Local organizations are asked to nominate one of their for recognition due to their volunteerism.
Co-hosting the ceremony are The Continuing Education Center at Rancho Bernardo and the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, with Marty Judge and Scott Lawn serving as co-chairmen.
The education and faith group honorees were presented their awards by Rancho Bernardo High Principal Hans Becker. They were: Fred Bercovitch (Continuing Education Center at Rancho Bernardo), Kendra Dasteel (Chaparral Elementary), Karin Edney (San Diego Oasis Tutoring), Subbu Ganapathy (Rancho Bernardo High School Parent Teacher Student Association), Maureen Hons (Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library), Chiaki Milton (Bernardo Heights Middle School), Susan Shaw (San Diego Oasis), Kathleen Slevin (Rancho Bernardo Historical Society), Patty Tokushige (Rancho Bernardo High School Foundation), Jack Tripp (Incarnation Lutheran Church), Julie Vari (Morning Creek Elementary), Christopher Vaughn (Knights of Columbus – St. Michael’s Catholic Church) and Michelle Zeidler (Meadowbrook Middle School).
The safety, health and human services group honorees received their awards from San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert. They were: Kathy Falco (Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center), Kevin Gellenbeck (Backyard Produce Project), Marilyn Osborne (Palomar Health Volunteer Services), Steve Seltzer (Rancho Bernardo Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol) and Carol Wigent (Gently Hugged).
The honorees representing organizations that serve seniors, youths and veterans were presented their awards by Assemblymember Darshana Patel. They were: Gina Burke (Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1513, Escondido), Brenda Chohan (Scouts BSA Troop 685), Denise Elliott (Ed Brown Center for Active Adults), Erin Hilligas (Girl Scouts of Rancho Bernardo), Helen Jenney (Quilts of Valor San Diego North County), Dianne Sala (Rancho Bernardo Senior Services) and David Yorck (Military Order of World Wars).
The community associations honorees were presented their awards by former San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. They were: Brian Armstrong (Eastview RB Community Center), Diana Bentley (Casa de Las Campanas), Dylan, Dennis and Melissa McCray (Westwood Club), Judy Neal (Pacifica Senior Living of Poway), Scott and Barbara Nelles (Seven Oaks Community Center), Angela Schmidt (Community Association of Bernardo Heights) and Karen Wiley (Oaks North Community Center).
The honorees representing civic and business groups were presented their awards by Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation President Debbie Kurth. They were: Dave Brooks (Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation), Andrew Kutzner (Rancho Bernardo Community Recreation Group), Trish Lee (Rancho Bernardo Community Council), Henry Manayan (Rancho Bernardo Democratic Club), Jan Stewart (Rancho Bernardo Republican Women), Stephanie Wiesenfarth (Spirit of the Fourth) and Sujata Yellaepeddi (Rancho Bernardo Planning Board).
The honorees representing service clubs and organizations were presented their awards by Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo President Terry Heck. They were: Judy Blackford (Kiwanis Club of Los Rancheros), Carolyn Burchell (Rancho Belles Ladies Club), Jo Cornell (Bernardo Gardeners Club), Joel Doss (Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo), Christine Fisher (Love on a Leash), Sherrill Horn (Rancho Bernardo Woman’s Club), Betsy Kostas (Soroptimist International – North San Diego), Carl Kruse (Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame 2025 inductee), Harvey Levine (Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame 2025 inductee), Dale Long (Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club), Laurie Madsen (4 Paws of Love pet therapy), Jaimin R. Shah (Rancho Bernardo Lions Club) and Alan Turner (Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame 2025 inductee).
