The City of Elk Grove’s Stars of Service Awards honor individuals and groups whose service helps make Elk Grove a welcoming, inclusive, and thriving community for all. These awards reflect the City’s commitment to equity, respect, and civic engagement by celebrating volunteers who strengthen neighborhoods, support community well-being, uplift diverse cultures and histories, and create opportunities for connection across generations and backgrounds.

About Stars of Service

These awards are designed to recognize volunteers who have made a significant impact on the quality of life in Elk Grove

Do you know a volunteer that has improved the quality of life for Elk Grove residents? Worked tirelessly volunteering for our community? The Elk Grove City Council invites you to nominate a deserving candidate for this year's Stars of Service.

Award Categories

Residents, Neighborhood and Community Groups

Honors volunteers who improve local neighborhoods and strengthen Elk Grove through hands-on service and civic involvement.

Examples include neighborhood beautification, park improvements, neighborhood watch programs, public safety initiatives, creek clean-ups, special events, and graffiti removal.

Social and Community Service

Honors volunteers whose service supports the social well-being and care of Elk Grove residents through compassion and humanitarian efforts.

Examples include working with seniors, children, individuals with disabilities, families, social services, health care, and public safety programs.

Arts

Honors volunteers who enrich Elk Grove through creative expression and arts education, increasing access to and appreciation of the visual and performing arts.

Examples include supporting visual and performing arts programs, arts events or exhibitions, music, theater, dance, and mentoring or teaching arts-related skills.

Culture and Heritage 

Honors volunteers who preserve and celebrate Elk Grove’s cultural diversity and historical heritage, strengthening community identity and understanding.

Examples include historical preservation, documenting or sharing local history, supporting museums or heritage programs, and organizing or assisting with cultural festivals or community traditions.

Sports and Recreation

Honors volunteers who support sports and recreational programs that promote physical activity, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles in Elk Grove.

Examples include coaching, mentoring, officiating, or supporting youth or adult sports and recreation programs.

Service Organizations /Groups

Honors organizations whose collective volunteer efforts make a positive impact in the Elk grove community.

Examples include service clubs, nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, corporate volunteer teams, or other organized groups.

Young Volunteer of the Year

Honors individuals under the age of 25 who demonstrate leadership, commitment, and meaningful community impact through volunteer service.

Examples include youth volunteering in schools, community organizations, service clubs, sports or recreation programs, arts or cultural initiatives, environmental projects, or those who lead or organize volunteer efforts.

Nominees must exemplify one or more of the following:

  • Demonstrates exceptional commitment to volunteerism by helping with a special project or ongoing activities
  • Demonstrates exemplary leadership, creativity, cooperation, and hard work in service to others
  • Serves as a role model by inspiring others

Any individual, group, business, agency or organization whose volunteer activities directly benefit the Elk Grove community is eligible.

Submit your nomination using the form below. 

If you have questions, or prefer a paper copy of the nomination form, please email Tamara Clarke, Admin Assistant to the City Council.

Nomination Form

Status message

Submissions for nominations closed on February 25, 2026. Please check back next year.

Past Recipients

  • Residents, Neighborhoods and Community Groups

    • Jana Shober 

  • Social and Community Service

    • Carolyn Bonkowski

  • Arts

    •  JYL Foundation

  • Culture and Heritage

    • Eva Zhou

  • Sports and Recreation

    • Bianka Solano 

  • Service Organizations and Groups

    • Visions in Motion Adult Day Program

  • Young Volunteer of the Year

    • Karlee Clark
       

  • Residents, Neighborhoods and Community Groups

    • Katherine Mendoza
    • Kim Mendoza

  • Social and Community Service

    • Brittany Davis

  • Arts

    • Arts Commission
      • Nan Mahon, Chair
      • Cheryl Griess, Vice Chair
      • Sally Guttridge, Recorder
      • Liz Irons, Commissioner
      • Leslie Sandefur, Commissioner

  • Culture and Heritage

    • Dennis Buscher

  • Sports and Recreation

    • Harminder Khangura

  • Service Organizations and Groups

    • Sacramento Splash, Mackenzie Wieser

  • Young Volunteer of the Year

    • Pratham Rangwala
  • Residents, Neighborhoods and Community Groups Recipient: Hollis Erb  
  • Social and Community Services Recipient: Robert Rhymes 
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage 
    • Recipient: Kelly Le (for focus on Culture and Heritage)
    • Recipient: Free Little Art Gallery Elk Grove (for focus on Arts) 
  • Sports and Recreation Recipient: Joshua Green  
  • Service Organizations and Groups Recipient: Scouts BSA Troop 118  
  • Young Volunteer of the Year Recipient: Kassi Parsons 
  • Jerry Braxmeyer, Residents, Neighborhoods, and Community Groups
  • Imam Mohammad Yasir Khan, Social and Community Services
  • ARTners, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Runnin’ for Rhett, Sports and Recreation
  • Elk Grove Garden Club, Service Organizations and Groups 
  • Brooklynn Cambridge and Kimberly Meusling, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Mark Hedlund, Residents, Neighborhoods & Community Groups
  • Gina Thielke, Social and Community Service
  • Chris Mateo, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Patsy Cosenza, Sports and Recreation
  • Micah The Comfort Dog, Service Organizations & Groups
  • Monique Tapalla, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Sharon Anderson, Residents, Neighborhoods & Community Groups
  • Elk Grove HART, Social and Community Service
  • Neil NayyarArts, Culture and Heritage
  • Mike Zamora, Sports and Recreation
  • Elk Grove Anti-Trash Group, Service Organizations & Groups
  • Timothy Duong, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Sophia Scherman, Residents, Neighborhoods, and Community Groups
  • Mike Van de Pol, Social and Community Services
  • James Tabuchi, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Kimberly Hettrick, Sports and Recreation
  • Elk Grove Quilt Guild, Service Organizations and Groups
  • Neyha Thandi, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Marlene Strand, Residents, Neighborhoods, and Community Groups
  • Michelle Anderson, Social and Community Services
  • Lynden King, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Cecilia Yarra, Sports and Recreation
  • Laguna Sunrise Rotary, Service Organizations and Groups
  • Clay Dagler, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Ryan Allen, Residents, Neighborhoods & Community Groups
  • Kevin Spease, Social and Community Services
  • Ray Bayles, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Beth Seevers, Sports and Recreation
  • Harriet Eddy Middle School National Honor Society, Service Organizations and Groups
  • John Phillips, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Keith Smothers, Residents, Neighborhoods & Community Groups
  • Don Nelson, Social and Community Service
  • Jackie Lewis, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Jonathan Sparks, Sports and Recreation
  • Volunteers in Police Service, Service Organizations & Groups
  • Abigail Taylor, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Lee Salo, Residents, Neighborhoods & Community Groups
  • Angela Spease, Social and Community Service
  • Elk Grove Quilt Guild, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Steve Abrams, Sports and Recreation
  • Laguna Sunrise Rotary, Service Organizations and Groups
  • Cindy Lam, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Ruby Parsley, Residents, Neighborhoods, and Community Groups
  • Kirkland Stout, Social and Community Services
  • David and Ginger Simpson, Social and Community Services
  • Jim Entrican, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Josh Jordan, Sports and Recreation
  • Elk Grove Community Garden, Service Organizations and Groups
  • Emiko Inouye, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Dennis Williams, Residents, Neighborhoods, and Community Groups
  • Teresa Rodriguez, Social and Community Service
  • Dee Tschida, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Sarah Schlussler, Sports and Recreation
  • Wayne Davis, Children and Youth Support
  • Abigail Carson, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Maria Kang, Residents, Neighborhoods & Community Groups
  • Dale Miller, Social and Community Service
  • Rich Tupen, Social and Community Service
  • John Hanrahan, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Billy Daniels, Sports and Recreation
  • Mike Jones, Children and Youth Support
  • Matthew Banicki, Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Connie Conley, Residents, Neighborhoods, and Community Groups
  • Frank Lucia, Social and Community Services
  • Nan Mahon, Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Elk Grove Sports Foundation, Sports and Recreation
  • Dan Woodward, Children and Youth Support
  • Austin Wu, Young Volunteer of the Year