Continuing with our 2017 Recognition Banquet honorees, here are the rest of our “community superstars.”

Student of the Year – Ayden Blackwood. With a passion to give back to his community, Ayden Blackwood, a senior at Crescenta Valley High School, has spent countless hours doing just that. On campus, off campus, on the soccer field, at church, at church camp or just out in the community, Ayden is a leader.

Entrepreneur of the Year – Bruce Bartels. Bruce Bartels, past Chamber director and owner of Bruce’s Automotive in La Crescenta, has gone above and beyond in bringing businesses in the Crescenta Valley together. It was his entrepreneurial spirit and dogged determination that brought together the Valley Automotive Group, a consortium of 10 local independent auto repair specialists that pools their financial resources to support many community events.

LA Co. Fire Dept. Award – Firefighter Paramedic Eric Evans. Eric Evans has been with the LA County Fire Dept. since 1999 and became a paramedic in 2001. He has held his current assignment at Fire Station No. 19 in La Cañada Flintridge for the past year and a half.

Glendale Police Dept. Award – Crime Team. Solving crimes often takes a team of talented individuals. By working together, Glendale Police Dept. Detective Petros Kmbikyan, DNA Laboratory Supervisor Catherine Nguyen and Senior Crime Analyst Dan Olsen were able to present strong evidence leading to the arrest of a Lynwood man in the shooting death of 67-year old La Crescenta resident Hy Soon Oh.  

LA Co. Sheriffs Award – Deputy Jasmyn Arredondo. Jasmyn Arredondo has been a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff since 2009. She has worked a variety of shifts, always with the same eagerness, positive attitude, and compassion for the public. In addition to working her regular patrol assignments, Deputy Arredondo was selected to work the Crescenta Valley Station Summer Crime Enforcement Team.  

California Highway Patrol Award – Officer Michael Ulloa. Mike Ulloa was born and raised in the Inland Empire. He was initially assigned to the Altadena area and continues to be dedicated to the area. Officer Ulloa has served as a certified field training officer (FTO) and a certified motorcycle training officer (CMTO). He takes great pride in teaching new members of the Altadena Motor Squad, taking the time to show every new officer the right and safe way to do the job.  

Lifetime Community Service Award – Warren Boehm (Posthumous Honor). Warren Boehm, longtime CV Chamber board member and past president, passed away at the age of 81 on July 4th of this year. He lived a life dedicated to community service. Warren was chairman of the Fireworks Committee, honorary mayor, chairman of the Legislative Committee, and a valued member of the CV Historical Society, among many other community-minded roles.

Don Carpenter Award – Ken Biermann. The Don Carpenter Award was established by the CV Chamber in 2013. Its purpose is to keep alive the legacy of Don Carpenter, owner and publisher of the Crescenta Valley Ledger for 50 years. This award recognizes people who are “making a difference.” Ken Biermann, longtime coach, educator and principal at CV High School as well as outstanding community leader, certainly deserves this prestigious award.

  Lisa DUPUY