Longtime Yolo County educators and UC Davis alumni Sandi Redenbach and Ken Gelatt are the 2013 winners of the Charles J. Soderquist Award, an honor bestowed by the university in recognition of exceptional volunteer leadership and philanthropy benefiting the campus community.

In 2011, Woodland residents Tom and Meg Stallard also won the award for their volunteer involvement with the university.

Created in 2005 by the UC Davis Foundation, the award honors the late Charles "Charlie" Soderquist -- a UC Davis alumnus, management professor, and well-known Sacramento-area entrepreneur and philanthropist.

"Sandi and Ken's commitment to philanthropy and passion for UC Davis truly exemplify Charlie Soderquist's legacy and the UC Davis

Foundation's vision," said Shaun Keister, president of the UC Davis Foundation and vice chancellor of development and alumni relations at UCD. "Their generosity, volunteerism and compassion have made a tremendous, lasting impact on improving the lives of students at UC Davis and throughout the region. We are very fortunate to have them as members of our community."

The award comes with a $5,000 prize that recipients give to the university program or area of their choice. Redenbach and Gelatt are donating their prize money to the School of Education's Guardian Teachers Scholarship. This program was created in 2011 with seed funding from the San Francisco-based Stuart Foundation to encourage former foster youth to pursue careers in

"I think we all have a responsibility to give back," said Gelatt, a math teacher and coach in Davis for nearly 40 years. "I want our gifts to UC Davis to serve as a way to let people know that giving is not hard to do. All of us can do more than we think, especially educators."

Redenbach, a veteran speech, drama and English teacher, agreed. "If two teachers can make that type of contribution, it must be clear to others that there is much they can do as well. My education proves that anyone can overcome obstacles and work toward a life of fulfillment and contribution," she said. "Our education at UC Davis helped Ken realize his dream of being a teacher and coach; it helped me discover my passion for teaching; and together, we discovered how we can effectively contribute to others."

Supporting the Guardian Teachers Scholarship resonates with Redenbach since she herself was adopted, a teenage runaway and a former high school dropout. Redenbach and Gelatt hope others will join them in their support of the Guardian Teacher Scholarship to inspire more former foster youth to pursue careers in teaching.

"Even when I was a dropout, I knew someday and somehow I would go back to school, get my diploma and find a way to be somebody," said Redenbach, who is currently president and founder of Esteem Seminar Programs and ESP "Wise" Publications. "And I just really want that for every kid."

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UC Davis Foundation honors Yolo County educators for supporting foster youth