Mary Ann Somerville, former Las Lomitas School District superintendent and Rotarian, will be among four community leaders to receive Golden Acorn awards from the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce’s at its 35th annual awards banquet Wednesday, Oct. 17.
The event, held again this year at the Stanford Park Hotel in Menlo Park, begins with Jeff Taylor, jazz saxophonist and chamber member, playing during the cocktail hour that starts at 5:30 p.m. before dinner and the awards presentation.
The Golden Acorn awards recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that make significant and positive contributions to Menlo Park and surrounding communities, said Fran Dehn, chamber president and CEO.
Ron Derenzi, a chamber board member and recently retired Bank of the West executive, is chairman of this year’s banquet.
Award winners are chosen by a committee of chamber board members and past award recipients. In addition to Ms. Somerville, who won the public service award, the winners are:
• Richard Acquaviva, vice-president/group publisher for Gentry Magazine, who won the Gary T. and Elissa Williams Memorial Award for Community Service. His involvement with the Menlo Park chamber can be traced back to his hard work and dedication to the Connoisseur’s Marketplace since 1989.
• The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy, which won the nonprofit organization award. Located in Woodside, this organization provides “therapy on horseback” to help children and adults with special needs gain increased functional independence. Executive Director Rita Almon will accept the award.
• The Stanford Park Hotel, which won the Albert J. Giannotti Award for Business Excellence. The hotel has supported, and been the site of, many community events. Jonathan Farrington, the hotel’s general manager, will accept the award.
Mary Ann Somerville
Ms. Somerville is being recognized for her commitment to students and public education for 41 years. She came out of retirement last April to serve as interim superintendent of the Las Lomitas School District, where she was superintendent from 1996 to 2006.
Under her leadership, both Las Lomitas School (K-3), La Entrada School (grades 4-8), and district facilities were renovated, remodeled and expanded. She hired 75 percent of the current staff.
Student performance on the annual STAR test ranks in the top 1 percent of schools in the state. Both schools received California Distinguished School Awards, and Las Lomitas was recognized as a national Blue Ribbon School.
A former trustee says Ms. Somerville, in her friendly, collegial and quiet way, was a highly capable instructional leader who attracted a wonderful staff.
She began her career in the Palo Alto Unified School District as a teacher, then served as an assistant principal of a middle school and a high school, and principal of Jane Lathrop Middle School. Before coming to Las Lomitas, she was assistant superintendent for instructional services in the Morgan Hill Unified School District for eight years.
Ms. Somerville has served as Rotarian for 19 years, following in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.
For more information, call the chamber office at 325-2818.
INFORMATION
The 35th annual Golden Acorn Awards banquet, sponsored by te Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17,with a cocktail hour, then dinner and awards presentation at the Stanford Park Hotel, 100 El Camino Real in Menlo Park. Tickets are $75 each. For reservations, call the chamber office at 325-2818 by Oct. 8.
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