PTAs throughout California give Founders Day awards “in special recognition of outstanding service to children and youth.” The LCHS PTSA Founders Day Awards celebrate the achievements and dedication of LCHS staff members, parent volunteers, and/or community members. Nominations for the current school year were solicited until January 15, 2022. Winners were announced in mid February and the winners, listed below, were celebrated at the Founders Day Tribute held at the La Canada High School Auditorium on Thursday March 17, 2022.
The LCHS PTSA Founders Day co-chairs for this year were Holly Biondo and Jamie Abrahamian. If you have any questions, you may contact then at ptaprograms@lchsptsa.org.
Here are the winners for the 2021-22 school year, announced on February 14, 2022:
Kelli and her family moved to La Cañada 11 years ago and she immediately stepped into volunteering where she could actively engage in her daughters’ schools. At PCY she was Art Docent for 4 years, Harvest Festival Co-Chair for 1 year, Holiday Teacher Luncheon Co-Chair for 4 years, on the PTA Executive Board for 2 years, Book Fair Assistant Chair for 3 years, and Room Rep twice. She was also on the planning committees for the Country Fair, Colonial Day, 6th grade play and 6th grade Fun Day. At LCHS Kelli served on the PTSA Executive Board for 4 years as Recording Secretary, as VP Programs and on two separate nominating committees. Kelli helped the Senior Planning Committee and administration navigate a Rose Bowl contract for graduation and serves as Team Mom for the LCHS Girls Water Polo Team. Within the community, Kelli has been a Girl Scout Leader and an active member of the local National Charity League, Inc. Glendale Chapter. She led this organization of 300+ members as President from 2020-2021 during the difficult first year of the pandemic.
Kelli has two daughters, Kadyn a sophomore at LCHS and Jayli a 2021 LCHS graduate and currently a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Kelli and her husband John will have been married for 30 years this summer! Kelli is an artist and graphic designer. Kelli enjoys painting, her daily walks/hikes, exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants, seeing live music, traveling, reading and cheering her daughters on at their sporting events.
Jonathan is a 12 year veteran teacher, 5 of which have been spent in the La Canada School District. He has served as a LCHS basketball coach for 4 years, as varsity head coach of the girl's program this year and regularly chaperones school events. Jonathan has been a club advisor and class advisor for numerous LCHS student organizations. He has created remarkable connections with his students who describe him as teaching with confidence, clarity and unwavering optimism, and creating an atmosphere where students feel included and safe. In fact, past students regularly seek him out to share their accomplishments both in math and their lives in general.
Cindy is a long-standing cherished teacher at LCHS. She has been a member of the math department at LCHS for 21 years and currently serves as Math Department Chair as well as faculty advisor for the Math Club and Math Valkyries. She is the advisor for the Class of 2022 and has worked with four other graduating classes throughout the years. For several years she has helped with Proms, Homecoming parades and dances, Monte Carlo events, grad nights, senior class trips, and numerous fundraising events and was especially instrumental in pulling off Prom during a pandemic. She has served as ASB class advisor several times, as faculty advisor for and Juniors for Seniors Clubs as well as Pep Squad advisor for six years. Students, staff and parents alike describe her as someone who always finds a way to give extra time and energy to making LCHS a better experience for all students, even with her own busy home life.
Beyond her amazing work with students at LCHS, Mijung as served as President of KAPA, the Korean American Parents Association at LCHS and Co-Chair of Korean Outreach at PCY from 2019 - 2021. She posts school information on KAPA social media, translates school documents from English into Korean and organizes parent volunteers to support teachers and students at LCHS. Mijung served as a committee parent member of the secondary school reopening committee, LCUSD June 2020 - May 2021 where she researched how overseas schools cope with pandemic crisis and provided valuable information regarding schooling in South Korea during COVID-19 pandemic, and provided informative messages from committee to Korean parents group in Korean translation. Mijung also serves as a
Paraprofessional II at LCHS and an Instructional Assistant supervising students in specialized programs, assisting students in performing school daily routines, taking notes and completing homework.
Wayne is the current President and a six year board member of the La Canada Music Parents Association which oversees the LCHS 7-12 students in Marching Band, Concert Band, Orchestra, Drumline, ensembles and Color Guard, and raises funds to support the 7-12 Instrumental Music Program’s approximately $250,000 costs and 13 instructors. Wayne raised over $100,000 with the Spartan Boosters, MPA and LCUSD to design, build and purchase the equipment to create the first-ever campus LCHS Recording Studio that allows the students in the LCHS 7-12 Instrumental Music Program, Choral Program, Theater Program and LCTV to fully collaborate, and led to the creation of the first Recording Arts class. Wayne has served as a Director of the LCHS Spartan Boosters for 6 years and created and produced a 4-hour telethon “Boostathon: La Canada’s Got Talent”, that was live-streamed Spring 2021 on YouTube to fundraise for the Spartan Boosters. The event featured new performances, videos, film/TV shorts, and comedy performances, athletic highlights, and video and zoom performances of over 900 students from the past few years and raised over $65,000 that was given to support LCHS 7-12 arts, athletics and enrichment clubs. Wayne served as President of the La Canada Elementary Dad’s Committee / Club for 3 years, which supported PTA and fundraising events, and created new events like the Father-Daughter Luau. Wayne has coached several AYSO soccer teams, Foothill Hoops basketball and La Canada Softball teams, served as Girl Scout Troop Cookie Chair and been a PTA member for 10 years.
Wayne has 2 daughters at LCHS, Emma Page (12th grade) & Grace Page (10th grade). Outside of being a Dad and LCUSD and community volunteer, he is a multi-EMMY Award winning Producer, Writer, Director for Film & TV, and a Marketing / Branding Consultant for his company Compelling Entertainment. I’ve been a writer and musician my whole life, and love writing sketch comedy, TV shows, Movies and currently a historical drama epic. He plays guitar, tennis and golf, and especially loves cooking. His favorite hobby through the years has been being a spectator at his daughter’s soccer, basketball, softball games, swim meets, gymnastics, dance, theater and clarinet, flute and piano performances.
(Honorary Service Award unless otherwise indicated.)
| Year | Winner | Award Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Justin Luthey | |
| Brent Beaty | ||
| Marybeth Henry & Harrison | ||
| Tamar Tujian | ||
| Jack Mackenzie | ||
| 2020 | Kelly Armaly | |
| Sun R. Chung | ||
| Maria Videla Juniel | ||
| Jeremy and Julie Milbrodt | ||
| Bill Lively | ||
| Rachel Zooi | ||
| Alice Hastings | ||
| 2019 | Justin Valassidis | |
| Laura Deans | ||
| Susan Moore | ||
| Frances Delgatty | ||
| Judy Kwon | ||
| 2018 | David Haxton | |
| Bob Huson | ||
| Mike Kauffman | ||
| Natalie Kouyoumdjian | ||
| Lori Moody (Haxton) | Golden Oak | |
| Chris Roberts | Continuing Service | |
| 2017 | Sarah Beattie | |
| Sonia Bradley | Continuing Service | |
| Christie Clarkson | Continuing Service | |
| Laura Strametz | Golden Oak | |
| Victor Torres | ||
| 2016 | Leanne Forshager | |
| A.J. Jones | ||
| Ian McFeat | ||
| Rosanne Morrison | ||
| Linda Richman | Continuing Service | |
| Merissa Sadler | ||
| 2015 | Maureen Borland | Continuing Service |
| Carlos Martinez | ||
| Vineda Mitchell | ||
| Lucy Pelletier | ||
| Kathy Seuylemezian | ||
| 2014 | Reda Hanna | |
| Kathy Harb | Continuing Service | |
| Samantha Heer | Continuing Service | |
| Celina Lew | Continuing Service | |
| Gayle Nicholls-Ali | ||
| Vicki Schwartz | ||
| 2013 | Justin Eick | |
| Jennifer Herzer | ||
| Deena Keys | ||
| Lori Moody (Haxton) | Continuing Service | |
| Joy Smith | ||
| Jason Stone | ||
| 2012 | Christie Frandsen | Continuing Service |
| Becky Lankey | Continuing Service | |
| Jamie Lewsadder | ||
| Jackie Luzak | Continuing Service | |
| Sue Wright | Continuing Service | |
| 2011 | Jeff Brookey | |
| Shelley Buck | ||
| Linda Kimball | ||
| Anne Tryba | ||
| Steve Zimmerman | ||
| 2010 | Paul & Cindy Gilbert | |
| Mo Hurlbutt | ||
| Rick Mohney | ||
| Cayce Sheppard | Continuing Service | |
| Sally Spangler | ||
| The 2009 LCHS Grad Night Committee | ||
| 2009 | Claudia Alequin | |
| Damon Dragos | ||
| Hilary Gregg | ||
| Cynthia Roye | ||
| Daniel Yoder | ||
| 2008 | Christine Burrows | |
| Jim Cartnal | ||
| Karen Mathison | Golden Oak | |
| Deputy Todd Samms | ||
| Tom Traeger | ||
| 2007 | Jim Harvey | |
| Michele Listo | ||
| Linda Matchie | ||
| Randy Strapazon | ||
| Beth Waas | ||
| 2006 | Joanne Davidson | |
| Susan Fleming | ||
| Laura Hicklin | ||
| Melinda Horwith | ||
| Joanne Lew | ||
| 2005 | Jean Kawakami | Continuing Service |
| Mike Leininger | Continuing Service | |
| Mary Motia | Continuing Service | |
| Tom Reynolds | ||
| Lorie Marie Rios | ||
| 2004 | Judy Cosgrove | |
| Rita Harwood | ||
| Christine Kim | ||
| LCHS Music Parents | ||
| Aileen Peterson | ||
| 2003 | Kim Beattie | |
| Cathy Geisbauer | ||
| Mary Jane Hufstedler | Continuing Service | |
| Kathy Kumagai | ||
| Morgan Spiecker | Golden Oak | |
| 2002 | Terry Engler | |
| Jan Guerrero | ||
| Vicki Ho | ||
| Karen Kiefer | ||
| Lindsay Ward | Continuing Service | |
| Tanya Wilson | ||
| 2001 | Linda Fors | |
| Myrna McCune | ||
| Karen Mealiffe | Continuing Service | |
| Bob Miller | Continuing Service | |
| Ginny Wetzel | ||
| 2000 | Craig Franzen | |
| Kathryn Mayer | ||
| Georgia Moses | ||
| Wes Seastrom | ||
| Richard Weld | ||
| 1999 | Debra Dane | |
| Phil Despard | ||
| Lindsay Epstein | Continuing Service | |
| Mary Lou Langedyke | Continuing Service | |
| Javier Rocha | ||
| 1998 | Randy & Mike Bayard | |
| Michael Carney | ||
| Anthony Dicks | Very Special Person | |
| Julie Miller | ||
| Wendy Nicoll | Continuing Service | |
| Hope Ricewasser | ||
| 1997 | Pat & Harold Henderson | |
| John Kelsey | Continuing Service | |
| Julie Miller | ||
| Carol Mollet | Continuing Service | |
| 1996 | Patty Compeau | Continuing Service |
| Mary Ruth Dicks | ||
| Carri Pollock | Continuing Service | |
| Dallas Raines | Honorary Life | |
| Mimi Song | ||
| Lani Wile | Continuing Service | |
| 1995 | Sherrill Carbonetti | Golden Oak |
| Kavitha Krishnan | ||
| Nancy Pickett | ||
| Elizabeth Rose | Continuing Service | |
| Mary Walsten | ||
| 1994 | Jinny Dalbeck | |
| Cappy Mieding | ||
| Ellie Slack | ||
| 1993 | Louie Bilowitz | |
| Carol Brown | ||
| Martha Osher | ||
| 1992 | Charlene Cundey | |
| Mary Jane Huffstedler | ||
| Carol Pollock | Continuing Service | |
| Margo Walter | ||
| 1991 | Marina Chahine | |
| Tema Halpern | ||
| John Siegler | ||
| Cynthia Smither | ||
| 1990 | Doug Coe | Continuing Service |
| Bonnie Falin | ||
| Tom Hofman | ||
| Noreen Kukkonen | ||
| Carol Liu | ||
| 1989 | Evie Aguilar | |
| Nancy Evans | ||
| Susan Hamre | ||
| Fred Hansen | ||
| 1988 | Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bender | Certificate of Appreciation |
| Elizabeth Rose | ||
| Dede Whitney | ||
| 1987 | Voytek Dolinski | |
| Becky Gelhaar | ||
| Mary Lou Langdyke | ||
| Karen Mealiffe | ||
| Rosalie Plowaty | ||
| 1986 | Liz Argue | |
| Tanya Beglitsoff | Certificate of Appreciation | |
| Jane Cooney | ||
| Don Hagen | ||
| Julia Hastings | ||
| Gary Lievre | ||
| 1985 | Jan Downhower | |
| George Madatian | ||
| Margaret Pankratz | ||
| Don Schaafsma | ||
| Lourene Vail | Continuing Service | |
| 1984 | Iris Douglas | |
| Karen Johnson | ||
| Don Miller | ||
| 1983 | Mary Ann Andrews | |
| Glen Perrin | ||
| George Wartenberg | ||
| 1982 | Jane Malmgren | |
| Clover Moffat | ||
| Nancy Palermo | ||
| Wealthy Slattery | ||
| 1981 | Marilyn Colyar | |
| Jim Harvey | ||
| John Lusche, Sr. | ||
| Donald Nydam | ||
| Barbara Roberts | ||
| 1980 | Nancy Francis | |
| Marilyn Pieroni | ||
| Dennis Sanchez | ||
| Thelma Stanley | ||
| 1979 | Jerry Klocek | |
| Carolyn Northern | ||
| Wesley C. Seastrom | ||
| Helen Smith | ||
| 1978 | Silsby Eastman | |
| Joseph Kidushim | ||
| 1977 | Sue Schechter | |
| Richard Wilkinson | Continuing Service | |
| 1976 | John Beger | |
| Lois Brough | ||
| 1975 | John Kelsey | |
| Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Larsen | ||
| 1974 | Mary Jane Ellis | |
| James McDonnell | ||
| 1973 | Rahla Hall | |
| 1972 | Anne Christopher | |
| Robert Hoagland | ||
| 1971 | Sally Moore | |
| John Murphy | ||
| 1970 | Gerry Bittner | |
| Fred Hansen | ||
| 1969 | Richard DeGrey | |
| 1968 | Virginia Frank | |
| 1967 | Douglas Coe | |
| 1966 | James Eaton | |
| 1965 | Ruth Lindegren | |
| 1964 | Jane Hogle |
