Robert Dager Named Chatsworth Citizen of the Year; Danielle Nguyen Is Youth of the Year

Robert Dager has been named the Chatsworth Citizen of the Year and Danielle Nguyen is Youth of the Year.

They were honored Friday at the annual Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council banquet for their significant volunteer activities. They received certificates from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Mitch Englander, Supervisor Michael Antonovich, and Congressman Brad Sherman.

Coleen Briggs was presented with a crystal lifetime achievement award for her years of service organizing the annual presentation ceremonies.

Volunteer Service Honorees included your reporter, Saul Daniels, for his work launching Northridge-Chatsworth Patch and chronicling local events. Other honorees included: Dale Chaloukian, Barbara Danowitz, Shelley Deutsch, Jess Espinoza, Rusty Hoyt, Janice Lauritzen, Lorie Lawrence, George and Judy Lightbody, Terri Seidman, Janet Slack, Catherine Stula, and Peter Ullrich.

All were nominated by community organizations or other volunteers.

There was also a gift basket raffle and silent auction organized by Joann Inouye and Linda Ross. The money raised goes to a scholarship fund for "B" students at Chatsworth High School.

The Council, made up of representatives from clubs, organizations, agencies, schools and religious bodies, plus interested private citizens, meets monthly. Founded in 1961, the non-profit, non-partisan group offers a forum to discuss community concerns and to maintain a calendar of community events.

"Robert Dager’s enthusiasm, diplomacy and readiness to help with all projects have made him a pleasure to be around.  Always ready to pitch in and never leaving until every task is complete, he has volunteered for 11 organizations over 20 years for the betterment of the Chatsworth community. His service history highlights follow.  

"Bob is a 2003, founding member and past president of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council and current member of its Enhancement Committee. Bob organizes tours and hikes for the Santa Susana Mountain Park Association, including personally guiding third graders and interested others on educational tours of the Santa Susana Mountain Park. 

"He also organizes speaking engagements to collect petitions and letters to obtain inclusion of NASA property at the former rocket research center as a part of the Santa Monica Mountain Federal Recreation Area. 

"Working with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains (FPSSM), Bob spearheaded a five-year community campaign (2000-2005) for declaration of the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park; and he continues to serve on the FPSSM Board, through which he also coordinates speakers on behalf of the NASA property project. 

"Between 2003 and 2008, Bob helped the Chatsworth Woman’s Club work on the five-year State Historic Park campaign and worked to help establish the Rancho San Antonio Library. Bob also solicited books for the library, obtained donations for shelves through the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, and cataloged books for the library.

"Bob has been a member and volunteer with the Friends of the Chatsworth Library for over 20 years and continues to help with fund-raising book sales. 

"He is also an active member of the Chatsworth Historical Society, helping with event set-ups, rose pruning, and a variety of other museum support activities. Bob currently serves as Corresponding Secretary for the Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council Board and presents programs. 

"He also assists with projects for the Chatsworth Sunset Provisional Rotary Club. Bob worked to develop the Santa Susana Park Volunteers program and continues to recruit and train its members." 

"Most recently, Bob Dager received the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce 2013 Legends and Heroes Award for his long-term, personal contributions to Chatsworth.   For his selfless service for more than 20 years, Robert Dager has been nominated by the Chatsworth Sunset Provisional Rotary Club for selection as the 2012-2013 Chatsworth Citizen of the Year.

Danielle Nguyen, 2012-2013 Youth of the Year, was nominated by Chatsworth High School with these words:

"Danielle Nguyen, an 18-year-old Chatsworth High School (CHS) student and Chatsworth resident, has been a member of the CHS Associated Student Body Leadership Organization since 2010, and did such an outstanding job as her Sophomore Class vice-president that she was re-elected to the position in her junior and senior years. 

"Her primary duty has been to assist her class president in overseeing the activities of her class; however, she has always extended her efforts well beyond her job requirements, working with other student body officers to plan school-wide and community events.  

"As class vice-president, she has very effectively helped oversee planning and implementation of all Class of 2013 activities, including weekly Steering Committee meetings and a plethora of fundraisers, generating thousands of dollars to defray senior class activity costs, including a Sadie Hawkins Dance and Winter Formal. 

"In this school year, she and her class president also oversaw the selection and purchase of senior class apparel. She will also help organize the senior class talent show, pre-prom fashion show, senior picnic, prom and graduation.

"She has taken on major roles in the planning of the annual homecoming and Powder Puff Football events and serves as a leader in the CHS Link Crew Program, a freshman orientation and transition program designed to help freshmen succeed in their first year of high school.  

"Danielle is a key player in the school’s varsity tennis team and is the Treasurer of the CHS Humanitas Student Organization, a club focused on community service.  Danielle has also been very involved in the organization of seven highly successful American Red Cross blood drives, four UNICEF drives, and three drives for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

"Outside of school, Danielle has served as president of the Chatsworth Library’s Teen Council and works part time at her family’s restaurant.  

"For her dedicated service to the CHS student body and activities, the American Red Cross, UNICEF, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Chatsworth Library’s Teen Council, Chatsworth High School has proudly nominated Danielle Nguyen as a candidate for selection as the Chatsworth 2012-2013 Youth of the Year."