Alumni Council Chair Honored for Service by Cal Aggie Alumni Association

Sandi Redenbach (Credential ’73), a retired English and theater arts teacher who overcame a tumultuous adolescence, was awarded the 2014 Aggie Service Award for her dedication of time, energy, volunteerism and leadership in support of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and UC Davis.

Redenbach, who serves as the chair of the School’s Alumni Council, was a teacher in Woodland for 15 years and in 1988 established an independent learning program, which still operates serving at-risk youth. She authored numerous articles and books and has funded an endowment to provide scholarships for students committed to improving education for those at risk of not succeeding in school. She is also recognized for exceptional volunteer leadership and support of philanthropy at UC Davis. Watch a short video about her life here.

Redenbach’s Comments

Thank you so very much to Rich Engle the California Aggie Alumni Association and all of the Officers and Board members, for honoring me with the CAAA Service Award. I have been a life member of CAAA since 1972 and never did I imagine that I would be included in the prestigious list of award recipients.

I also want to thank Chancellor Katehi and the other dignitaries who are gathered here tonight to honor all of tonight’s recipients in their various categories. I am very proud to be in such influential and important company.

I am humbled at being singled out for recognition of my service. There are so many people who do so much, why me? But to me service is just part of my normal routine. I only hope I am truly worthy of this valuable award.

To my friends here whom I love and cherish, thanks for being wonderful, supportive, and loyal. I greatly value each of you.

To my husband, Ken Gelatt, a man who knows the true meaning of unconditional love.  He is always there for me no matter what and he trusts and supports me in all of my volunteer endeavors. I am able to do what I do because God gave me a self-assured, independent man who is willing to take care of him self.

I want to thank Dr. Harold Levine, who seems to see something in me, in spite of my craziness, and who, in faith, invited me to serve as the first Chairperson of the School of Education Alumni Council.  I am also proud that we have formed the School of Education Alumni Association, which is the first school or college chapter of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association.

I am grateful to serve the School of Education and I want to thank all of the members of the Alumni Council and The Dean’s Advisory Board who, with tremendous dedication are serving the school.  They teach me about service all the time.  

Thanks to the faculty and staff of the School of Education many of whom have become my friends.  You are some of the most dedicated people ever.  I love you all.

Volunteering is my way of reaching out to others, my way of feeling that I fully exist. By helping others accomplish their goals–large and small–I feel fulfilled, connected and important. Being a part of something larger than myself reminds me that I can make a contribution. I really think that relationship, philanthropy and contribution are what allows us to leave the kind of legacy we all want to leave. Ultimately, I really believe God would not have given me the skills and talents that have proven so useful in my volunteer work unless He meant for me to use them in the service of others.

Role models have always inspired me toward a mission to make a difference in the world.  The most compelling act of service I have rendered is that of a classroom teacher. At my urging and modeling my students performed many hours of community service during their high school years. I will continue to model that behavior until the day I die.

I will close with the inspiring and compelling words of one of my heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King who said,

“EVERYBODY CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN SERVE.  
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE TO SERVE.  
YOU DON’T HAVE TO MAKE YOUR SUBJECT AND VERB AGREE TO SERVE.  
YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT PLATO AND ARISTOTLE TO SERVE.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT EINSTEIN’S THEORY OF RELATIVITY TO SERVE.  
YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW THE SECOND THEORY OF THERMODYNAMICS IN PHYSICS TO SERVE.  
YOU ONLY NEED A HEART FULL OF GRACE.  A SOUL GENERATED BY LOVE.”

My heart and soul will always treasure tonight and this wonderful acknowledgement. Thank you.