St. Mary’s Legacy Award Winners

School and Community Recipients Announced

Aliso Viejo, CA, February 1, 2008—The winners of St. Mary’s and All Angels sixth annual Legacy Award were announced today before a packed gymnasium of students. Eighth grade student Hayley Ritterhern of Laguna Hills is the recipient of the 2008 Legacy Award. Joining Ritterhern in this prestigious honor is Lt. Rich Paddock of the Orange County Sheriff Department and Chief of Police Services for the City of Aliso Viejo.

The annual Legacy Award honors a St. Mary’s student and a community leader who demonstrate superior leadership skills, evidence of service and civic responsibility. The community leader is selected by the Legacy Award Committee.

The student competition involves writing three essays and being individually interviewed by a panel of judges representing local community and business leaders.

St. Mary’s four ACES: Attitude, Commitment, Engagement and Service are the key areas assessed in the competition. Judges look for evidence of leadership at school and in the community by serving as role models, inspiring, motivating, serving and engaging others in a group project.

This year’s judges were Michelle Jordan, Principal/Founder, Jordan LLC Strategic Communications; Don Laffoon, Executive Director, Stop-Gap, Inc.; and Bill Ford, SVP & Senior Client Manager, Nonprofit Education & Institutions, Bank of America. They graciously volunteered their time to review the candidates’ essays, as well as interview them and ultimately convene to select a winner.

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