'Best of Turlock' recipients named

The Turlock Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual "Best of Turlock" awards Friday night. Winners were as follows:

• Citizen of the Year: Patricia O'Donnell. She has volunteered for the city of Turlock and the Carnegie Arts Center Foundation for more than 15 years, and spearheaded efforts to renovate the center before the 2005 fire. After the blaze, she turned her attention to rebuilding and expanding the Carnegie, collaborating with city officials and staff, the Carnegie Advisory Committee, Turlock City Arts Commission, Foundation Board and community volunteers. She consistently shared her passion for the arts center and its work with hundreds of community members through the Carnegie Arts Center Foundation's fund-raising efforts; her work has been instrumental in establishing the foundation as the operating entity for the revitalized Carnegie Arts Center, which will bring art, music, poetry, dance and theater to the Turlock community and the entire region.

• Youth Citizens of the Year: Simon Staley, a Pitman High School senior involved in water polo, Future Business Leaders of America, and the school's symphonic and jazz bands, and also volunteers with several community service programs; and Bryce Brenda, a Turlock High senior who works for his family business, is ranked second in his class, volunteers to give free French horn lessons and plants trees in city parks.

• Business Leader of the Year: Emanuel Medical Center CEO John Sigsbury, who has overseen the design and construction of the $30 million Emanuel Critical Care Center and formed a partnership with Stanford Medicine to open the Stanford Emanuel Radiation Oncology Center. Sigsbury has led the largest expansion of Emanuel facilities and services in the hospital's 94-year history, most recently working to bring advanced cardiac care to Turlock.

• Agricultural Leader of the Year: Veterinarian Gary W. Daley. Practicing for 33 years at Lander Veterinary Clinic, Daley also donates his time during the Stanislaus County Fair as the barnyard on-call doctor, and advises 4-H and FFA students.

• Humanitarian of the Year: Sister Christina Doona, a nun in the congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary for more than 50 years. She has taught school, trained parish volunteers and helped those wishing to join Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock for 27 years. Doona is retiring and returning to her home country of Ireland.

• Educator of the Year: Sheri Sutterley, kindergarten teacher at Walnut Elementary Education Center. A teacher for 34 years, Sutterley also works with the Bureau of Education and Research.

• Youth Involvement Award: JoLynn DiGrazia, executive director of the Westside Ministry, a privately funded nonprofit organization that serves low-income children and families. The ministry offers hot meals four days a week, as well as a drop-in center and activities, such as dance and 4-H, for area children.

• Corporation of the Year: California Dairies Inc., which formed in 1999 with the merger of three cooperatives: California Milk Producers, Danish Creamery and San Joaquin Valley Dairymen. CDI is the largest dairy processing cooperative in Central California and the second-largest in the state, producing more than 40 percent of California's milk in its six plants.

• Small Business of the Year: B&B Manufacturing, which dates back to the 1940s. The company manufactures ag equipment and truck parts with the philosophy, "If you can think of it, we can make it." In 2000, B&B expanded with a second facility in Fresno.

• Special Recognition: The Carnegie Arts Center, which reopened in 2011 after a fire nearly destroyed it in 2005.

• Volunteers of the Year: Don Hill, who has served on the chain gang for Turlock High football since 1973 and Pitman High since it started playing in 2003; and Joaquin Rose, who handles general maintenance for the Turlock Community Theatre.

• Ambassador of the Year: Liz Allen, who has worked on the committee that helps with special events, mixers and other chamber programs for four years.

• Chamber Champions: Allen Mortuary, Emanuel Medical Center, F&M Bank, Gemperle Enterprises, JKB Energy, Lancaster Painting, MedicAlert Foundation, Oak Valley Community Bank, Rabobank, Smith Chevrolet Cadillac, Turlock Journal, Turlock Scavenger/Turlock Recycling, Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency