Bob Burton Spirit Award

The Bob Burton Spirit Award is presented to a person who makes SPIRIT WORK, who makes a positive difference and who emphasizes inclusion with all students and members. The nominee must be a CADA member, individual or vendor. The award is given through the area in which the nominee maintains business or membership. The nominee cannot be a current council member and will be given to one person, not to teams, partners or groups

2020 Bob Burton Award Recipients

AREA A: Kristin Patten, Antelope High School

Kristin Patten is married to her husband Tyler who teaches English at her high school. She has one son in elementary school and family is everything to her. Kristin states that her parents gave her faith, integrity, humility and work ethics. While she was in high school, she was the Sophomore Class Representative, Junior Class President, and ASB Rally Commissioner. She received her teaching credential from Sacramento State University where she was the Student Orientation Leader and Coordinator. Kristin knew she wanted to be a teacher since the age of seven. As a new teacher, she ran the Link Crew program and coached Softball. She also taught Social Science. Kristin was recruited to open Antelope High School. Is it any wonder she would become an Activity Director? She has been an Activity Director for fifteen years, and during that time she served on the Area Council, won the Area Service Award, presented at Area conferences, at the CADA convention, and has also presented at CADA camp. She became a culture cohort with Phil Boyte and has been featured on his podcasts and in his presentations. Kristin is extremely passionate about teaching leadership and she is not afraid to show it. Very often you will find Kristin in her tutu leading cheers. She has an extremely high expectation for attitude and excellence when creating and putting on events. Together, with her students, they create safe, positive, and fun events for all. Kristin states, “we do not coordinate events that are “popular or cool,” we coordinate events to demonstrate bold leadership and our passion for doing the right thing.” Kristin was nominated by two people for this award and both stated that she makes a positive difference on her campus everyday. Kristin emphasizes inclusion. She is selfless, kind, creative, and very talented. Kristin strives to create a sense of Titan pride for all students and staff. We, the Area A Council, cannot think of anyone else who is more deserving of this honor than Kristin Patten.

Area b: Nichole McGowan pickett, moreau catholic High School

Nichole McGowan Pickett has worked in education for 19 years, 13 as a high school English teacher and 6 years as an Activities Director. She has been a Coordinator for Link Crew for 17 years, which was what first drew her to Activities. Nichole is originally from rural Idaho where she was class president and achieved her state degree in FFA. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, she moved to California to pursue teaching. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, board gaming, and knitting.

AREA C: Nyrie Karkazian, el capitan middle School

Nyrie Karkazian is the Activities Director and an ELA 7 teacher at El Capitan Middle School in Central Unified School District. She began her career in Central Unified as an After School Program teacher in 2006 and went on to become an English teacher in the district in 2011. After two years at El Cap, she gladly accepted the Activities Position in 2014. She has been teaching Leadership and English ever since, and she can confidently say her life would never be the same again without Activities. Although Leadership and Activities has its ups and downs, she would never trade it for anything. It is her driving force and is what makes her want to go to work every single day. She is so incredibly thankful to have CADA in her life and to have won the Bob Burton Spirit award this year. It has been six years and no matter where or when she is with her CADA family, her mind always ventures to the same thought: These are her people!

AREA D: stacy picciuto, Washington middle School

Stacy Picciuto took over the activities program at Washington Middle School two years ago, but it isn’t her first trip to the rodeo. She held the position 18 years ago, and before that she was a high school activities director in the Bay Area. In the last two years, she has kept activities that were a tradition at the school, while adding her own flair. A favorite event was when the students made holiday sugar scrub as a gift for staff members - and they loved it! She has also instilled the idea of servant leadership amongst the students, and the leadership class has done many charitable events for our local community. Stacy embodies the spirit of Bob Burton, and we are proud to give her this award.

AREA E: tim hall, s.a.g.e. Magnet Academy

Tim Hall is currently working at SAGE Academy and has worked tirelessly over the past several years to bring trainings and leadership opportunities to students at not only Cactus Middle School (his previous school site), but to the entire Palmdale School District.

Tim has been integral in creating positive change on campuses throughout his district by leading the district ICC, coordinating funding and transportation to summer CADA/CASL Leadership Camps and the Area E Student Leadership Conference each year. He has also encouraged colleagues to attend the state convention each year to develop their skills as campus leaders across the district.

AREA F: david vollmar, San Jacinto Leadership academy

The Bob Burton Spirit Award recipient for Area F is David Vollmar. David is in his 13th year at the San Jacinto Leadership Academy where he has worn numerous hats. From math teacher to coach; administrative designee to lead negotiator for his teachers’ union, David does it all. Today, David runs the school ASB, organizing much needed spirit weeks for his middle school students. He runs a student store and has elevated the Harvest festival to new heights that has become a district and community source of pride.

AREA G: Jeremy hersch, grossmont high school

Jeremy Hersch has been a Teacher / Activity Director for the past 17 years at Grossmont High School in La Mesa, California. He has been recognized for his work creating a positive school culture and creating a kind online environment on Grossmont’s campus. Jeremy has traveled throughout California leading workshops on a variety of topics including the use of social media in schools, implementing SEL, and more for both students and teachers.

AREA H: Kristin Grimm, Clark county schools, Nevada

Kristin Grimm is the project facilitator in the Student Activities Department for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has the opportunity to coordinate secondary district-wide events and provide leadership, guidance, and direction to high school and middle school administrators, advisers, and students with respect to various activity programs of the Clark County School District. Responsibilities include student and advisor leadership training, facilitating the spelling bee for middle school students, coordinating chess, Junior Varsity Quiz, and speech and debate tournaments for high school and middle school students, collaborating on National Junior Honor Society and student council conferences, supporting cheer competitions, coordinating graduation ceremonies, serving as the liaison for local, state, and national student activity events, serving as liaison to local organizations and responding to inquiries from CCSD and the public regarding policy and events. Prior to working in Student Activities, Kristin was a special education teacher, education computer strategist, and student council advisor. In 2005, she was named the Middle School Student Council Advisor of the  Year for NASC Region 7. 

Kristin strives is to make as many people as possible feel like they are important. She hopes to spread positivity throughout each day and create moments that matter!

Past Bob Burton Award Recipients