By Natalie MAIER

The 45th Annual Les Tupper Awards presented by the La Cañada Flintridge Coordination Council (LCFCC) took place recently in the Von Karman Auditorium at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories.

The recipients were Heather Haaga who helped refurbish a section of Descanso Gardens; La Cañada school board member Joel Peterson; La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce president Pat Anderson; La Cañada Community Center and Tournament of Roses volunteer Dr. Mike Leininger.

Student Service Awards were given to two high school juniors, Huntington Hospital volunteer Andrea Klein and honor court member Talia Bernhard.

President of Friends of the La Cañada Flintridge Library Rosemary Hook accepted the award for this year’s outstanding organization.

Every May since 1969, the LCFCC has presented exceptional individuals, businesses and organizations with the Les Tupper award, honoring them for their dedication and service to the community. The awards are named after Leslie Tupper, who moved to La Cañada in 1954 and served as school board president and was on the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Deputy director for Earth Science and Technology at JPL, James E. Graf, was the guest speaker.

The public was invited to celebrate at this year’s award ceremony and, according to Joe Thompson, publicity chairman of the LCFCC, about 150 members of the community were in attendance.

LCFCC president Sheree Butts said this year’s recipients were all very diverse in their services to the community. She added that many of them have been volunteering for years and this was the first time they had been recognized.

“The work [the recipients] do in the community, they don’t do it to seek recognition,” Butts said. “They do it because it is natural to them. They should be applauded and recognized for everything they have done to shape the community.”

  Natalie MAIER