Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, center, gets surprised Wednesday night by being named the Elks Citizen of the Year. Bob Nelson, chief of staff for Supervisor Peter Adam, and Guadalupe Councilman Gina Rubalcaba congratulate her. 
Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino accepts the Elks Citizen of the Year Award Wednesday from Exalted Ruler Tony Campas and Past Exalted Ruler Luis Rodriguez. 
Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino was surprised to be named the recipient of the Santa Maria Elks Citizen of the Year Award on Wednesday night. 
Santa Maria High School seniors Isabella Blanco and Sindy Valle Davila received Elks Student of the Year Award on Wednesday night. 
The Santa Maria Elks recorgnized top students from Santa Maria Valley high schools on Wednesday with awards and scholarships.
A surprised Mayor Alice Patino received the Santa Maria Elks Citizen of the Year Award on Wednesday night where she was noted for her role as a leader and community volunteer.
“This person has acted on a personal mission and brought many others along the way, changing the way they thought and acted,” Past Exalted Ruler Luis Rodriguez said in announcing Patino as the award recipient.
“She stands for effective public services, clean neighborhoods, safe parks and more programs for local youths and families,” Rodriguez added.
The award was given out during an annual dinner that also recognizes top high school seniors in the Santa Maria Valley.
“The Citizen of the Year Award recipient recognizes a deserving citizen for embracing lifelong learning, outstanding volunteerism, leadership and for help teaching, mentoring or advocating for others in the City of Santa Maria,” Rodriguez said.
“Recognizing an individual in a special way that’s contributed to improving the local community shows the Elks are concerned with building a good community and demonstrates that Elks care and Elks share,” Rodriguez added.
The first Elks Citizen of the Year Award was handed out in 1983 to Scoop Nunes, founder of the Santa Maria Indians semi-pro baseball team.
After recognizing the details of her life as Rodriguez read the recipient’s biography, a stunned mayor sat at the head table among other dignitaries, her hands covering her mouth and her eyes welling with tears.
Patino was born in Los Angeles and grew up around the globe as the daughter of an Army soldier.
In her early 20s, she married a Santa Maria native, John Patino, and established her own roots in the city.
“Basically, Santa Maria’s always been my home and I married a homie who was born and raised in Santa Maria so that makes me a Santa Marian,” said Patino, who has served on the City Council since 2000 and became the city’s first woman mayor in 2012.
She worked as an educator from 1972 to 1982 in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. She also served on the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board from 1976 to 1991 and had roles in other community organizations.
As Patino walked to podium to accept the award, her colleague, Councilwoman Etta Waterfield, shouted, “Alice, look at the back,” where the mayor’s husband of more than 50 years had appeared after hiding out elsewhere in the Elks Lodge.
“I’m never at a loss for words whether anyone wants to hear them nor not,” Patino said. “Oh my gosh. Thank you. Thank you very much.”
As an emotional Patino stood at the podium, Councilman Mike Cordero walked up to offer the mayor a handkerchief.
Before the revelation of Patino’s award, the Elks recognize several Santa Maria Valley high school seniors, some of whom received Elks National Foundation scholarships while other were honored as students of the month.
Additionally, two Santa Maria High School seniors, Isabella Blanco and Sindy Valle Davila, were surprised with the Elks Students of the Year Award.
“Tonight we honor those students who have excelled above their peers in their academic endeavors,” Rodriguez said. “Additionally, they have shown through the number of accumulated community work hours their complete dedication to true citizenship.
“Students, may your dreams come true,” he added.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
