The Malibu Times Citizen of the Year Awards were established in 1987 to recognize students who have demonstrated concern for the rights and needs of others in their community. They are not based on academic achievement alone. The recipients are chosen by teachers, administrators and peers at their respective schools.
Kelsey Holmes
Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School fifth grader Kelsey Holmes has been an active member of the school’s student body, and most specifically the Community Service Commission. She has been the Head Commissioner for a year. “With her leadership and the commitment of our student members,” Principal Chi Kim writes, “our Pennies for Peace program has raised over $18,000 to help build and supply a school in Afghanistan. She is a caring member of our community who shows that hard work and kindness toward others can make a big difference, deserving of the Citizen of the Year Award.”
Harry Putterman
Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School fifth grader Harry Putterman has been an active member of the Point Dume Marine Science School student body, and most specifically the Environmental Commission. Principal Chi Kim writes: “He lives a life of sustainability that is modeled throughout all of his interactions at school and at home. He works with other members of the school to compost, recycle, learn about hydroponic gardening and be an active energy saver! He walks to school everyday (and has for six years!), brings waste free lunches and develops ideas to support long-term energy savings. He is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable citizen and deserving of the Citizen of the Year Award.”
Simon Ettenger
Malibu High School 12th grader Simon Ettenger has participated in numerous community service activities and has led and participated in countless projects benefiting humans, animals and the environment. He has served as the volunteer coordinator for Malibu Thanksgiving Dinner for People in Need for six years; organized more than 75 volunteers who feed more than 250 people, including low income families and youth from Camp Kilpatrick; is a member and nine-year student leader of the Roots & Shoots California Youth Leadership Council, for which he participated in a service learning trip last summer to Tanzania, Africa; and is four-year vice president and treasurer of the Best Buddies-Malibu High School chapter, for which he has organized and led group activities and outings for members in special education and mainstream classes. Ettenger, who will attend UC Berkeley in the fall, is also a two-year veterinary technician at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital and was a six-year member of the Malibu High School orchestra, for which he played clarinet.
Theadora Stutsman
Vanessa Fekete, Malibu High School college counselor, recommended Malibu High School 12th grader Theadora Stutsman for her academic, community service, musical and athletic achievements. Stutsman is the 2008 recipient of several awards including that of the National Merit Commended Student; the Princeton Book Award for Scholarship; the ROP Student of the Year, Digital Design. She was also the recipient of the 2006 Malibu High School Certificate of Honor. She is the founder and the 2007-2008 editor-in-chief of The Inkblot, Malibu High School’s first literary and arts magazine; the founder and president of “FYI,” a club for raising global awareness; and vice president and president of the Key Club. Stutsman also participated in the 2008 Cal-Commerce Legislative Conference in Sacramento. She has contributed 468 hours of community service for organizations including the Key Club, Save Darfur, and Malibu United Methodist Church, among others. In addition to winning three first-place awards at the 2006 Fullerton Jazz Festival, Stutsman has won three Scholar Athlete Awards since 2005 for tennis, softball and basketball. She will attend Dartmouth College come fall.
Nicolas Pakzad
Eugene Wilson, principal of Colin McEwen High School, writes: “Nicolas Pakzad is a serious-minded student with the ability to achieve academic excellence in whatever course of study he endeavors. He has been a consistent advocate for the rights and needs of others.” Nicolas has been accepted for admission to Pepperdine University, where he will be attending in the fall.
Alexander Goodman
Juan Cabrillo Elementary School fifth grader Alexander Goodman is an “exceptional student, leader and role model, both in the classroom and the community at large,” Principal Barry Yates writes. The vice president of the Cabrillo Student Council, Goodman has been active in promoting the “One Book One City” program. He is a major contributor to the “Cabrillo Breeze” newspaper club as well as the Singapore Math Club. “Alexander is modest about his accomplishments and respected and well-liked by his peers and teachers. It is a pleasure to nominate him for the Citizen of the Year Award.”
Isabella Thatcher
Juan Cabrillo Elementary School fifth grader Isabella Thatcher “exemplifies what ‘citizenship’ means!” said Principal Barry Yates. “She is consistently supportive and tolerant to all her classmates. Isabella excels in instrumental music (cello) as well as in art. She treats all her peers with respect and will go above and beyond to show patience and willingness while working with all peers and classmates, displaying kindness and encouragement, especially to those students who struggle.”
Evan Hardie
Regina Gillespie, eighth grade teacher at Our Lady of Malibu School, writes: “OLM eighth grader Evan Hardie is an excellent student in school. He demonstrates a great attitude toward academic scholarship, leadership and service. Evan continually strives to the limits of his abilities, both in the classroom and at home, to achieve those personal, academic goals which his teachers believe are within reach of his future goals. He readily and unselfishly helps others at home, at school and in the community to a degree that is judged exceptional for a young person of his age.”