Association Awards

VERNE LANDRETH AWARD
This award recognizes individuals who exemplify the highest in service, research, teaching or administration. Recipients are clearly outstanding in their profession.

Gail G. Evans

Gail Evans' professional endeavors include years of teaching and coaching, as well as the highest levels of university administration. She held the position of Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at San Jose State University, while serving as Director of the University General Education Program.  As a result of her academic expertise and the quality of service she provided to San Jose State, Gail was recently appointed Dean of Undergraduate Studies at San Francisco State University.  In that role, she oversees the entire undergraduate curricula for both majors and general education, academic advising, two tutoring centers, and articulation with other institutions.  Her presentations on the importance of liberal education reach a far wider audience than only those in the HPERD professions.
  
Gail became a student member of CAHPERD in the early 1970’s and has been a member for most of the following years.  She has served in a variety of roles, including Santa Clara Valley Unit VP for GWS (1984-1986), Santa Clara Unit President (1986-1987), Scholarship Committee Chair (1990-1991), Bay District Representative (1990-1992) and CAHPERD President (1999-2000).  Gail was the recipient of the CAHPERD Honor Award in 1994.
   
Gail’s contributions outside of the CAHPERD organization have also been extensive.  Examples include her work as President of the Western Society for Physical Education of College Women (WSPECW), where she also served as Treasurer and Conference Manager, among other positions.  In addition, Gail's leadership was also evidenced in the National Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (NAPEHE, now known as NAKPEHE) where she was the Executive Secretary/Treasurer for more than a decade. 

Gail has clearly achieved the criteria for the Verne Landreth Award. In recognition of her outstanding professional achievements, the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance proudly presents the 2009 Verne Landreth Award to Gail Evans.

Robin D. Reese

Robin Reese received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from East Stroudsburg State College in 1973 and her Master of Science from Western Illinois University in 1974.  She continued her studies, earning a Master of Arts in Education and her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

Robin held teaching positions at several schools and institutions over the years, but the better part of her career was spent at California State University, Sacramento.  She was on the faculty at CSUS from 1981 until her retirement in 2006.

Robin has been a dedicated member of CAHPERD for more than 25 years.  She was the recipient of the CAHPERD Honor Award in 1995.   Robin has served in several leadership positions for CAHPERD, including Northern District President (1987-1989), Elementary Section Chair (1994-1995), President (1997-1998), Professional Education Section Chair (2001-2002) and Conference Site Manager (2003).  She is currently a member of the Governance and Structure Committee, a Facilitator for the Physical Education Model Content Standards Professional Development Series and, most recently served as Coordinator for the California Council on Physical Education for Children (2008).

Robin has made numerous presentations at CAHPERD and AAHPERD Conferences, as well as the Cal Poly Workshops in San Luis Obispo and conferences of other state HPERD associations.  She has also authored and co-authored numerous books, articles and other published works.

As stated by friend and colleague, Debbie Vigil, "Dr. Robin Reese has clearly been outstanding in the physical education profession.  Not only has she exemplified the highest achievement in service, research, teaching and administration during her career, she continues to exemplify outstanding leadership as a retired CAHPERD member." 

In recognition of her outstanding achievements, the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance proudly presents the 2009 Verne Landreth Award to Robin Reese.

HONOR AWARD

The CAHPERD Honor Award recognizes persons who exemplify the spirit of devoted service to the profession and who have, by their leadership and industry, made an outstanding and noteworthy contribution to the advancement of health, physical education, recreation or dance in California.

Arleen Hammerschmidt

Arleen Hammerschmidt received her Associate's degree from Riverside City College in 1966 and her Bachelor's degree from California State University, Northridge in 1969. She went on to further her education and earned her Master's degree from CSU, San Marcos in 2006. Arleen has held various teaching positions throughout her career and, since her retirement from Oceanside Unified School District, has served as Supervisor of Physical Education Teacher Education at San Diego State University, as well as Supervisor of Student Teachers at California State University, San Marcos.

Arleen is a loyal and dedicated CAHPERD member. She has served in several leadership positions and on numerous committees, including Membership, Legislative and Teacher of the Year Selection Committees. In 2004-2005, Arleen served as VP for the Girls and Women in Sports Division. Most recently, she has been actively involved as a Facilitator for the Physical Education Content Standards Professional Development Series.

Arleen's tireless work with the Legislature of the State of California in regard to salient issues regarding Physical Education in our schools has been widely recognized, both in CAHPERD and the California Department of Education.

In recognition of her outstanding achievements, it is a pleasure to present the 2009 CAHPERD Honor Award to Arleen Hammerschmidt.

PHYLLIS A. BLATZ EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award honors individuals who have provided unique and distinguished leadership to CAHPERD over a minimum of fifteen (15) years in any or all levels of jurisdiction, or within other aspects or projects of the Association.

Antoinette “Toni” Marich

Antoinette "Toni" Marich has made broad based and enduring contributions to CAHPERD over a significant period of time, exhibiting the true spirit of professional volunteerism.

A member of CAHPERD since graduating from CSU Long Beach, Toni has been active at the local, district, state and national level. She has served as VP for Dance (1987), Campus Liaison for CAHPERD Summer Dance and Movement Workshops (1983 & 1985) and Site Coordinator for the Southern District CAHPERD Conference at CSUDH (1986).  Her involvement at the state level also includes active membership on numerous and varied committees and task forces of the Association, among them:  Ways and Means, Cultural Diversity, Editorial Board, Resolutions and Legislative (8 years).  Toni has been a member of the CAHPERD Foundation Board of Trustees since its inception in 1997. She has also spent countless hours working with the California Dance Educators Association to establish a separate Dance Credential in the state. 

Although Toni has given so generously of her time and wisdom to CAHPERD, she has also remained actively involved at Cal State Dominguez Hills, teaching and mentoring young dancers, in addition to serving on numerous committees within the University.  Toni never seeks the limelight, preferring instead to cheerfully provide assistance to any and all who ask. 

As stated by friend and colleague, Beverly Stunden, "Toni is viewed by many as the classiest of ladies:  always interested and interesting, always warm and friendly, always ready to help and encourage, always open and remarkably honest, always knowledgeable, ... and always, always elegant."

Phyllis Blatz had immense affection, admiration and respect for Toni.  She would be delighted to see Toni receive the award that was established in her name.

Division & Section Awards

Health Educator
Deborah Wood
California Healthy Kids Resource Center

K-12 Dance Educator
Joyce Jackson
Canyon High School, Orange USD

GWS Distinguished Service Award
Diane Milutinovich
Fresno, California

GWS Pathfinder Award
Barbara Fiege
Los Angeles USD

BMA Honor Award-Middle School
Darren Estes
Reginald Benton Middle School, Norwalk-La Mirada USD

BMA Honor Award-High School
Christopher Flores
Warren High School, Downey USD

Adapted Physical Educator
Bob Gray
Fresno Unified School District

Clark Hetherington Honor Award
Chad Fenwick
Los Angeles Unified School District

Emmett Ashford Community Spirit Award
Rudy Benton
Burlingame School District

Past Presidents' Award of Merit
Christopher Corliss
Orange County Department of Education

Karen Mendon
Montebello USD, Retired

Wendy Jones
Antioch Unified School District

Student Scholarship Awards

Winifred Van Hagen/Rosalind Cassidy Scholarship
Sean Michael Chamberlain, California State University, Fresno
Kevin Shephard, California State University, Chico

James Echols Scholarship
Xeng Xia Xiong, California State University, Fresno