Alameda Unified School District Community Members Chosen for City Volunteer Awards

Announcement submitted by Alameda Unified School District:

Two community members with long-standing ties to the Alameda Unified School District have been chosen to receive City of Alameda Community Service Awards at a ceremony on October 22, 2015.

Nielsen Tam, who served as a teacher, principal, union negotiator, and Board of Education member before he passed away last May, will receive a posthumous Special Lifetime Achievement Award. Vickie Smith, who worked on civil rights issues for several decades here in Alameda, will receive a Community Service Individual Award. Smith retired from AUSD last month after supporting AUSD’s homeless students for more than ten years.

In addition, Encinal High School (EHS) students Deanna Chu and Julian Aguilar will receive Community Service Youth Awards that night. Chu was nominated for her outstanding work with the American Red Cross (both at EHS and for the City). Aguilar was nominated for his work as a youth attorney with the Centerforce Youth Court.

“I am so pleased that Vickie and Niel, both of whom inspired and mentored me and hundreds of others in our community, are the recipients of these awards,” AUSD Superintendent Sean McPhetridge says. “They are both so deserving. I also extend congratulations to the two EHS students who have worked so hard to help their peers and the community at large. We are blessed to have committed people from all generations supporting our district.”

The honorees will receive their awards during a reception and ceremony on October 22 at the Alameda Elks Lodge (2255 Santa Clara Ave). The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to both. The honorees also will be recognized during a presentation of The Extra Mile Day Proclamation at the October 20 meeting of the City Council.

The other Community Service Award winners this year are Audrey Lord-Hausman, Ginny Krutilek, Marian Williams, and Alameda Family Services.

The judging panel reviewed 25 nominations for this year’s contest, which is the second year the City has given out Community Service Awards. The panel included Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, Alameda Police Chief Paul Rolleri, Mastick Senior Center Advisory Board VP Paul Hauser, Social Services Human Relations Board (SSHRB) Awards Committee Chair Jennifer Williams, SSHRB Board President Doug Biggs, and SSHRB Board Member Audrey Hyman.

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