Area Service Award

The Area Service Award is presented each year for overall contributions to CADA. Recipients should have been active on the Area Council, summer camp program, as a state officer, as a presenter at area conferences or state conventions.

2023 CADA Area Service Award Recipients 

AREA A: Pete Totoonchie, Nevada Union High School

Through his involvement on the Area A Board, Pete has served the area a board by helping to plan, prepare and presenting at both student and advisor conferences. He goes out of his way to foster relationships in all the work he does and truly loves being connected to his CADA family.

 

AREA B: Laura Saldana, Westmont High School

Laura Saldaña has been a CADA member for fifteen years. She was activities director at Willow Glen Middle School before moving to Westmont High School ten years ago. On her campus, Laura worked to increase student recognition, developed a student/staff equity team, and empowered her leaders to create a more inclusive campus. Laura has been a member of the Area B Council for over five years. During that time, she organized the Area B talks throughout the pandemic as well as presenters for the area conference. Laura has presented at area conferences around the state as well as the state convention. She has been on the CADA Summer Camp staff, serving as Curriculum Director for three years. Most notably, Laura coordinated the CADA Slam for the state conference, summer camp, and Area B conference. Laura is honored to receive this award and is thankful for everything she has learned and the connections she has made through CADA. 

AREA C: Nyrie Karkazian, Madera South High School

Nyrie Karkazian is the recipient of the Area C Service Award for the 2023 school year. Nyrie has been serving as an educator for the last 18 years and started her career in After School Program at Madison Elementary in Central Unified School District. She then became an English teacher in the district for a few years before working hard to become the Activities Director of El Capitan Middle School. She served at El Cap as the Activities Director, Campus Culture Team Chair, Cheer Advisor, Yearbook Advisor and more for 8 years before accepting a high school position as the Campus Culture Director and Senior Class Advisor at Bullard High School in Fresno Unified School District. Nyrie has has been a member of CADA for the past 8 years, has served on the CADA board since 2020 and was the recipient of the Area C Bob Burton Spirit Award in 2020. She enjoys presenting at student and adult CADA conferences and being involved in as many activities and events as possible. Nyrie had the amazing opportunity to serve as an emcee with her great friend Nestor Cerda, CCD at Roosevelt High School, at this year's Ven a Mi Casa CADA Conference 2023. Needless to say, Nyrie has a passion for activities and absolutely loves her CADA family!

AREA d: Lori Lowensen, North Monterey County High School

AREA e: James Jontz , South Pasadena High School

James Jontz works at South Pasadena High School.He has worked there since 1993 teaching Stage Production and used to teach Digital Media Production.  He received the student nominated SPHS Hartsough Award as an outstanding teacher in 2014.  He works as Stage Manager in the performing arts centers at Pasadena City College and Citrus Community College.  In addition to dramatic productions, he designs and implements 10-12 musicals a year, for SPHS and organizations such as Upstage and Theatre 360.  He serves on the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee, spent 2 years as President, and works every year to build the Rose Float and has driven the float down the parade multiple times. In what free time he has, he enjoys going to Disneyland and seeing as much theatre as possible.

AREA f: Dilene Pulsipher, Home Instead Innovation Academy

AREA g: Lauretta Eldridge, Bostonia Global High School

Lauretta has been involved in Activities since her days in Junior High School. She served as ASB Secretary during her sophomore and junior year in high school, and served as Senior class Vice President. She attended CADA Cheer/Leadership camp two summers while in high school. During these early years, she learned her leadership lessons from CADA Secretary/Treasurer/Conference Coordinator Genel Wokal-Hodges who was her ASB advisor.
Lauretta has belonged to Area C council for 26 years, serving as Area Coordinator for seven years and was nick-named the “People’s President” during the EPIC CADA 2016 Convention. During this time she has received the Area C Service Award, Earl Reum Award, Harry Bettencourt Award, the Hall of Fame Award, and has been awarded the Master Activity Advisor credential. She has presented at every conference in all CADA areas A-G, and has presented at prestigious National Leadership organizations out of state. She also has worked CADA high school and middle school Leadership camps since 2009. She loves CADA and her goal is to meet every member of CADA.

Past Area Service Award Recipients