COUNTYWIDE : 9 Are Honored for Self-Esteem Efforts

A drug counselor, a drama coach and a youth program supervisor were among nine Ventura County residents honored by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for helping build self-esteem in their communities.

“We originally thought we’d select one person, but how can you honor only one when there are so many who are doing good work?” said Jan Butler, co-chairwoman of the year-old Ventura County Council to Promote Self-Esteem and Personal and Social Responsibility.

The recipients themselves seemed appreciative of the honor.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” said Oxnard resident Linda M. Davis, an alcohol and drug treatment specialist for the county who spends much of her free time counseling substance-abusing women. “But the real honor for me is the help I can give others; there is no greater reward than that.”

Award recipient Rex Waggoner, who founded the Camarillo Children’s Music theater in 1989, agreed.

“There’s nothing that compares to seeing a shy, timid child transform into a confident star,” Waggoner said.

“These kids are facing many obstacles,” said Linda Saucedo, supervisor of the Youth at Risk landscaping program in Oxnard. “I just try to get them to take the first step toward doing something positive.”

Other award recipients were Sharon Hatton, a probation supervisor from Agoura; Marty Estrada, a medical receptionist from Oxnard; Laura Burwick, a drug and alcohol counselor from Port Hueneme; Liz Galvan, a Ventura alcohol counselor who has organized a community “sober softball” program; Dawn Hildebrand, a teacher at the Patagonia Child Development Center, and George Short, a retired high school guidance counselor from Ventura.