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The City of Sammamish Honors Local Residents with Volunteer Awards
Sammamish, Wash. – (December 5, 2018) –The City of Sammamish recently celebrated honorees for the 2018 Volunteer Awards. These awards honor community members who volunteer their time to work in partnership with City staff and other volunteers to ensure the success of City programs and services. Honorees of note included Claradell Shedd and Sid Gupta, along with 25 others. Claradell Shedd, Arts Commissioner, was recognized for her dedication to creating greater accessibility to the fine arts for all residents. Some of noteworthy projects she has led include: bringing local art to Sammamish roundabouts, the introduction of artistic wraps for utility boxes, and the Build It Sammamish LEGO event. Shedd is also the City’s first ever winner of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, having accumulated more than 4,000 volunteer hours with the City. “Ms. Shedd has given a total of 4,306 hours of service to this community,” noted Mayor Christie Malchow. “Her contributions to Sammamish are incredibly valued and her love of our City and this community is inspiring. It is so fitting that she receive our first ever President’s Lifetime Achievement award.” In addition to the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Shedd was also named co-volunteer of the year alongside Sid Gupta, a Parks Commissioner. Gupta first became involved with the City in 2014 through the Washington Native Plant Society’s Native Plant Stewardship Program, where he led a restoration plan for a blackberry-infested section of Ebright Creek Park. Over the last two years, he has helped plan and lead monthly Ebright Creek volunteer parties and volunteer afforestation events in the Lower Commons wetland. Gupta is noted for his dedication and commitment to working in every weather condition to teach volunteers how to plant trees and safely build Big Rock Park’s boardwalk. In addition to Shedd and Gupta, the City honored 10 Bronze level volunteers, 13 Silver level volunteers, and 4 Gold level volunteers. The volunteers came from the Planning Commission, Arts Commission, Parks Commission, Plant Stewards, Human Services Commission, Heritage Society, Police Explorers, and the Community Emergency Response Team. "These volunteers exemplify the spirit of community that makes the City of Sammamish a great place to live and work," said Malchow continued. "We are proud to honor them and the important work they do as they continue to define what it means to be truly engaged and active members of our community." About the President’s Volunteer Service Awards The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted, permanent residents of the United States who have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period or cumulative hours over the course of a lifetime. More info about the awards: https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/the-award.
Claradell Shedd
and Mayor Christie Malchow with President’s Lifetime Achievement Award;
City of Sammamish 2018 Volunteer of the Year award winners Sid Gupta and
Claradell Shedd pose with Mayor Christie Malchow. FOR IMMEDIATE
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