The San Marcos AAPLE Academy (Accelerated Academic Program for Leadership and Enrichment) celebrated its second annual AAPLE Celebrates Fundraiser April 12. This year’s Leadership Excellence award was presented to David Ortiz, longtime principal at La Colina Junior High School and community leader.
The event, held at Shalhoob’s Funk Zone Lounge, included tributes by academy director Erik Nielsen, La Colina science teacher Megan Cottich; and a heartfelt testimonial from AAPLE 12th-grade student Tiffany Garcia.
Live music provided by student musicians provided ambiance for the 120 parents, community dignitaries, and corporate and foundation sponsors in attendance to celebrate community leadership and civic service.
AAPLE Celebrates sponsors included: Mosher Foundation; Alix and Josh Rabinowitz; Helen and John Michael Lind; Ginger Salazar and Brett Matthews; Fell, Marking, Abkin, Montgomery, Granet and Raney LLP; Jason and Sharon Hughes. Bob and Robin Fell; Stacey and Ryan Fell.
Clarity Ventures, Pal 8 Media, M Timm Development, Jen and Max Drucker, Sven and Jenny Klein, Imagine, Dr. and Mrs. Lewis Rubin, US Trust, Santa Barbara Foundation, Buttimer Family, Kim and Chip Blankenhorn, Carol Tricase, Contract CFO/CPA, Natasha Chamberlain, Malone-Cunnison Family.
Kathy and David Nicolson, Mike Chenoweth of Radius Group Commercial Real Estate, White and Grube Orthodontist, George and Sharon Bifano.
In-kind sponsors were: M Special Brewing Company, Sunstone Winery, AAPLE Academy Board of Directors, Jensen Audio, Erika Petote, Lull Mattress, Sonos, Lind Family, StarCycle, Flying Flags, SeaVees, Shalhoob’s, Arigato, The Habit, Jeannine’s, Los Arroyos, Sushi Teri, Empty Bowl, Bouchon, and Ingrid Engmyr.
Alix Rabinowitz for San Marcos AAPLE Academy.