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Past Exceptional Woman Winners
Congratulations to all our past winners
Catherine Haynes
Cathy is an incredibly hard working, selfless and generous woman.
She is a teacher at Edison High School and gives nothing less than everything she's got to each and every child that walks through her door.
Whether they're her student or not, she welcomes them with open arms offering advice for both their educations and life in general. She is without a doubt the kind of woman that young women can look up to.
As a single mother of 3 children, a dedicated high school teacher, and a godly woman above all else. She has faced MANY battles in her life and has overcome each one with grace and determination. Exceptional by definition means 1. Being an exception; uncommon. 2. Well above average; extraordinary 3.. Deviating widely from a norm. All of these things describe Catherine Haynes to a "T" and if she is chosen, I know that you will agree.
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Jami De La Cerda
Jami De La Cerda started her career as a Special Olympic volunteer, while she completed three education credentials and a Masters Degree of Science, Special Education. She taught Special Education, Adult Transition for Fresno County Office of Education before creating and implementing Diamond Learning Center, Inc. and The Centers for Lifelong Learning, Inc....
Upon meeting Jami, you can't help but embrace her spirit, enthusiasm for learning, and compassion for others. These attributes are what make her a leader and pioneer in pursuing lifelong learning of those with disabilities...
Jami is a visionary in the field of education, and has the innate ability and genuine concern for the needs of each person she is in contact with. 2001 is marked with her nomination for 'Teacher of the Year.' Her experiences in care giving and in service professions have given her an excellent background for teaching...
I highly recommend Jami De La Cerda for the Exceptional Woman's Award. I am confident that her continued success, volunteering and community program development will affect positive outcomes for future students, staff and community members...
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Chrissy McCombs
She is a FT mother of three children, she is the president of Sierra View Elementary School, parents committee, she works PT at Valley Children's Hospital, she is a wife, she works PT at a mortgage company in Madera, she dedicates her life to her family and friends and still finds time to help others in need. She is always devoting her time to other families in need and helps with church activities. She is a special woman and I feel she should be awarded for all of her accomplisments. She could use a day of pampering. I love her dearly and hope that you would consider her as your February winner.
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Gail McLain-Lugowski
1. Lost her husband and the father of children James and Andy when the boys were just 9 and 5.
2. Lost a step-son Mark at the age of 18
3. Survived cancer 9 years ago. Only days missed from work were the 17 days she was in UC San Francisco Med Ctr for a bone marrow transplant.
4. Brings home-made cooking and desserts to son James' Fire station in Clovis, treating the Fire family weekly. Custom birthday cakes are made for all family birthdays, for our family of 19 (four kids, spouses, and 9 grandkids)
5. Is a fabulous seamstress, making outfits, blankets, booties, etc. for each of the 9 grandchildren she now has.
6. Leads the grandkids on Halloween tours through the neighborhood dressed out with them. Halloween is her favorite holiday.
7. Gail is the definition of modesty. She grew up in a home with outdoor plumbing, so is so grateful for a nice home, plenty of food, and visits from family. So very low maintenance! So giving.
Would you kindly consider this yet another nomination of our Gail McLain-Lugowski!
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Sandra Steaples
It's difficult to express in words why I'm nominating this woman because she's indescribable; she's the warmth in my soul. We have crossed paths for a reason and she will forever stay in my heart. This nomination goes to the strongest woman I know, my great friend, Sandra Steaples. We met when I started my new job around 3 years ago and instantly "clicked". Her sweet Texas accent, kindness, and hospitality makes her shine. In my time of need, she was the only person who was there, who would listen, who gave me a shoulder to cry on and still had her own battle to deal with. She was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. All I could think is, "How could this happen to a good person with such a giving soul?" She didn't deserve this, no one does. But she didn't let it get to her. When she was sick from Chemotherapy, she would still have a smile on her face only because she didn't want the world around her to be affected with unhappiness. Even at the worst of times, when she had to shave her head, she was the most positive person I know. She was determined to fight the cancer, defeat it, so she could go back to see her family for Thanksgiving. Her last treatment was a few weeks ago and the cancer is in remission. I'm hoping that she can now move forward with her life and at this point, I don't think anything can stop her. I want the world to know how much of an amazing person she is, thus the reason for this nomination. I don't know what I'd do without her.
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Linda Sacks of Fresno
I believe in my heart that there are no words that can describe the human being that I’m nominating; I believe that God put her in my path because, I prayed and prayed
to him I was lost and had no one to turn too. Linda Sacks, my boss! Linda is a fantastic women and a blessing. Why is she so fantastic you might be asking? I am a 22 year old woman who
has two little kids one 3 years old and a now a 9 month old. During my last pregnancy I had difficulties, at 8 months pregnant I found out my baby was going to have to have surgery
because her stomach was not completely closed. During this time I had to take time off of work and I was not able to keep up with my finances. My family was going through the toughest
times, we did not have any money for food and we had to go days without eating, and having to make a lot of sacrifices. One day Linda asked me what was wrong with me and I was not able
to hold back I had to tell her. Tear after tear; I told her about my families problems, she opened her heart to us. Thank you! She has until this moment given me the support that a
mother or parent is suppose to give her child. Even though my life was not her business she made it her business. I thank god everyday of my life because he crossed my path with an
amazing, kind hearted, remarkable woman. Without Linda I believe something tragic could have happened to us. I believe that Linda is a well qualified nominee and I believe that the world
needs to know what an extraordinary women she is.
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Mary Mills of Fresno
All mothers are exceptional just for being mothers but it takes a special person to be woman that my mother was. When I was 12 years old I was diagnosed with a rare
disease causing my kidneys to fail. I was extremely ill and in immense need of a kidney transplant. With this news my entire family’s life changed but it was my mother who stepped up
and took control. I was so sick that I needed care around the clock. My mother quit her job without a second thought and devoted every minute to taking care of me. She gave up so much
of her life, spending days learning about all the new medications I would be on, weeks learning how to perform dialysis on me so I would be able to do it in the comfort of my own home
and she spent months by my side in the hospital never leaving to do anything for herself but always making sure I had everything I needed. She sat through everything I had to go through
enduring it right along with me. All of the endless blood draws, countless i.v’s, and numerous surgery’s, she held my hand and said it hurt her more to see me hurting than it was hurting
me to have the procedure done. She always told me she would give anything to make this all go away and I know she would have. The most upset I ever saw my mother, was the day she was told
that she could not be the kidney donor that I needed; because four years previous she battled her own illness when she had melanoma skin cancer. She was devastated when the doctors told
her. She thought she would be able to make everything better but now she had to sit by as my older sister donated a kidney to me and watch as her two daughters underwent major surgery. My
mother is the strongest person that I know. Now I am 21 years old and I doing wonderful with my sister’s healthy kidney but I would have never made it to this point with out my mother
giving up everything to take care of me. Still today she makes sure I take my medications and gives up hours of her life sitting through doctor appointments with me. Anytime I ask my mother
what she wants all she ever says is for me to be healthy but its time for her to be taken care of for a change and I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.
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Linda Nielsen of Madera
If I were asked to name the most remarkable woman this world has seen, do you know what I would say? I would firmly reply, my mother. Linda is the mother of five
children, ages ranging 26 all the way to 9. At 16, I am the second youngest. Allow me to introduce you to this remarkable woman. Her name is Linda Nielsen, married to my father Don for
27 years. For 26 years, my mother has devoted every aspect of her life to raising a family. Undoubdetly one of the most selfless people I know, she never thinks of herself first. She
stands most immovable in her faith, which has become eternally grounded in my heart. What makes her so special, so exceptional? Her pure charity. She often stays up late doing those last
loads of laundry for the school day tomorrow. She calls the three children in college almost every day, concerned for their well-being. She is the best listener and offers the perfect
answers to my worried questions. My darling mother is slow to anger, and quick to comfort us. Not only does she care immensely for her own family, but Linda cares for everyone around us
as she lends helping hands to school and community. The world will be ever grateful for the posterity that will blossum from one loving mother.
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Julie Hernandez of Fresno
My mother is so much more to me then just a mother. She is my best friend, a role model and my hero, but if you ask the students at her school where she teaches several
high school classes and works in the administration office they too consider her a friend and a role model. My entire life my mother put aside so much so that her 3 children would have a
better life. I remember my mother was PTA president, little league coach, Boy Scout den mother, Cheer coach and a friend to everyone she crossed paths with. When each of us kids finished
high school we all attended Fresno State where she continued to keep an active role in our lives. Most young adults might want their mother out of the picture, but not us. Our mother was
awesome! From the surprise going away party she had given me before I left to the Army or assisting of moving from the dorms to an apartment she was always there for us! Recently my mother
has been through some difficult times. I wish I could do something to change what is going on in my families’ life right now, but I can’t unfortunately. Even though most people I think would
just give up or blame others for what is happening... not my mother she continues to wake up each morning and accomplish so much and help so many people, sometimes forgetting about herself.
To explain a little of what my mother deals with each day yet manages to smile without hesitation is her father, my grandpa has Alzheimer’s and she recently has had to move him without any help
from her brother or sisters for whatever the reason might be from Hawaii to here locally and place him in a Alzheimer’s Car Home. Furthermore, my mother, who is on a single income and has her
own bills, now must take on some of the cost every month for this Care Home because my grandpa’s benefits do not equal the high cost of an Alzheimer’s Care Home. Wait; if that is not enough my
entire family has found out in December that my little sister who is a D.A. here in Fresno is pregnant with her first child… you might be saying to yourself “like this is a bad thing.” Well on
Valentines Day this year 2 months into her pregnancy my sister found out at the age of 27 she has Stage 2B Brest Cancer and has immediately started chemo. My mother without hesitation does all
she could possibly do to help out my sister and her husband through this difficult time and because of all she seems to be doing she often forgets herself and also simple things like the breakfast
on the stove she was cooking before she ran off to work one day last week. I tell you my mother does so much without hesitation or any complaints and I hate more then anything to see what my mother
has recently gone through in her life. Well last week she forgot the eggs on the stove she was making for herself and left to work. When she returned her entire home was filled with smoke! Everything
was ruined! My mother lost everything to smoke damage and is now living in a hotel until her home can be cleaned of the smoke. My mother has the one outfit she happened to wear to school that day as
well as a sweater that was in her trunk. She has no idea when she will be allowed back into her home or when she will get her belongings back. My mother doesn’t have the money to go out and purchased
outfits for work, or get her nails done at this time because like I said earlier already she is on a tight budget due to helping my grandfather and now with what has happened to her home she does not
even know if she will be able to afford her home any longer because her insurance most likely will be going up. Surprisingly, my mother continues to smile and laugh! She says she is just grateful to
have her children, grandchildren and a job. My mother never complains even after all this. That is my best friend, my role model, and my hero, MY MOTHER JULIE!
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Debi Gabel of Coalinga
I'm nominating my mom not just because she is my mom but because she is my best friend. Throughout the years my mom has endured so many tough things but still has managed to provide
for her four children while loving us and setting an amazing example of a Godly woman. Everyday of my life she has sacrificed so much to make mine and my siblings lives more comfortable. There was a
time when she slept on the living room floor so we could have our own rooms. She spends her days making differences in the lives of children. My mom devotes many hours volunteering at our church and
is always there for others when they need a listening ear. She never spends money on herself but on us, her kids. Even though my mom performs many selfless acts, she never expects anything in return.
She just wants to see those around her succeed. She has nominated other women for awards like these but never has she received an award or any sort of recognition for being an amazing woman and mother.
No amount of words can ever express the immense gratitude I have for her. I just hope that through this act she can feel more loved and more appreciated than I am able to do on my own.
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