City of La Mirada
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT

Cathy Rigby

Recipient of the Award for Career Achievement from the Theatre League Alliance, this former Olympic gymnast was nominated for Broadway’s prestigious Tony Award and starred in the 50-city national tour of the Emmy Award winning production of Peter Pan originating at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.  She and her husband Tom McCoy, are producers of the highly successful Broadway series at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT

Warren Van Ess

This prominent artist overcame significant personal challenges to create extraordinary works of art.  A mouth-painter, Mr. Van Ess illustrated two western history books and authored another book describing his life and artistic journey.  He conducted art lessons for children and spoke at many school assemblies.  The recipient of numerous honors, Mr. Van Ess states, “My world may begin in  a wheel chair, but it moves out as far as my mind and imagination can take me.”

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

Debbie Heald

On March 17, 1972, Debbie Heald, a 16-year old junior at Neff High School in La Mirada, set the world indoor mile record at 4 minutes 38.5 seconds, which has stood as the high school indoor record for more than 30 years.  Ms. Heald was honored to carry the Olympic Torch for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

Dr. David Holmquist

Biola University Basketball Coach Dave Holmquist became the youngest coach in the nation at any collegiate level to reach 600 wins in 2002.   Dr. Holmquist was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.  His Biola teams have consistently ranked among the top teams in the nation.

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

Ila Borders

La Mirada resident Ila Borders was the first woman to sign a professional men’s baseball contract and pitch in a men’s regular season professional game in 1997.  Ms. Borders appeared in seven games with the St. Paul Saints.  She was the first woman ever to earn a baseball scholarship and to win a men’s college game: 12-1. 

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

Jennie Finch

La Mirada High School graduate Jennie Finch broke an all-time NCAA record, pitching her 51^st consecutive win for the University of Arizona Wildcats. Her streak has since reached 58 straight wins this season (2002).  She was named Most Outstanding Player in the 2001 Women’s College World Series and University of Arizona’s Most Valuable Player, after leading the nation with a 0.36 ERA and posting a perfect 32-0 NCAA record. 

City of La Mirada
Achievement Recognition Program
Academics ~ Arts ~ Athletics

Mandatory Criteria:
a Recognition will be given for exceptional achievement.
a Individual nominees must have lived, worked or attended school in La Mirada.
a The individual must have been a positive role model in the community.
a Group nominations will be considered if the membership of the group is comprised of ninety (90) percent or greater La Mirada residents, or if the group represents a school whose majority of students are La Mirada residents.
a Submit a copy of nomination form with each entry.  Entries are accepted throughout the year.

Selection Procedure:
A committee designated by the City of La Mirada will consider all nominees.  Awards will be considered and given only if the committee deems appropriate.  If the committee determines that the entry does not warrant an award, none will be given.  Entries may be disqualified if submission criteria are not met and /or complete.  Nominees not selected in a particular year may be resubmitted in future years for consideration.

Award Notification:
Notification letters will be mailed to all nominees.

Award Recognition:
The awardees will be recognized at a City Council meeting on a date to be determined by the City of La Mirada.

NOMINATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED AT ANY TIME.
For more information call the Community Services Department at (562) 943-7277.