School of Education Alumni Receive Soderquist Award for Exceptional Support to UC Davis

Sandi Redenbach (BA ’72, Credential ’73) and Ken Gelatt (BS 67, Credential ’68) have been selected as the 2013 recipients of the Charles J. Soderquist Award at UC Davis.

The Soderquist Award was named in honor of the late Charles “Charlie” Soderquist—a UC Davis alumnus, management professor, and well-known Sacramento-area entrepreneur and philanthropist. The award, which was created by a philanthropic gift from the Soderquist estate, recognizes exceptional volunteer leadership and support of philanthropy at UC Davis, and honors UC Davis supporters whose efforts as volunteers have made a significant and lasting impact on the university.

“We are both so honored by this recognition,” said Redenbach. “We’re still in a little bit of shock.”

The couple are clearly more than worthy of the recognition. They have given time, financial support, and passion to the UC Davis School of Education, Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, and the UC Davis Medical School, to name just a few of the areas on campus that have benefitted from this dynamic duo’s dedication to their alma mater.

“Sandi and Ken’s commitment to philanthropy and passion for UC Davis truly exemplifies Charlie’s Soderquist spirit and legacy,” said Chancellor Linda Katehi at the reception to honor them on May 8.

Redenbach and Gelatt are both two-time UC Davis graduates - completing their bachelor’s degrees and then teaching credentials. Before retiring, they each spent more than 40 years in Yolo County classrooms: Redenbach as a speech, drama, and English teacher and Gelatt as a mathematics teacher and coach. After 16 years of teaching junior high and high school in Woodland, Redenbach founded the Woodland Joint Unified Independent Learning Center in 1988. During her tenure, the Center graduated more than 80 students who would have otherwise dropped out of high school.

Redenbach also helped to build early alumni activities such as reunions and a teacher appreciation event for the School, and she is the founding chair of the School’s Alumni Council.

The couple’s philanthropic example continues to demonstrate exceptional leadership, as well. In 2008, Sandi created the fourth endowed scholarship fund at the School of Education with a gift of $53,000 to establish the Sandi Redenbach Students-at-Promise Award. Two years later, she created a charitable remainder trust with a real estate asset valued at more than $300,000. That same year she and Gelatt were the first education alumni to include the School in their estate plans.

This fall, Redenbach inspired others through a $5,000 matching pledge for the School’s Power of 10 Scholarship Fund, a fundraising effort to raise scholarship funds during the School’s 10th anniversary this academic year. Her match of $5,000 motivated School of Education staff, faculty and alumni to match her pledge in less than three weeks. Soon after, Redenbach inspired her friend and fellow alumnus, John C. Brown, to match her commitment to the scholarship fund with his own pledge of $5,000, which was matched less than 10 weeks later.

“In all my years working with Sandi and Ken, it is abundantly clear to me that not only are they two of the most dedicated alumni to the School of Education,” said Harold Levine, dean of the School of Education. “but also they get genuine pleasure from their service to the School by taking every opportunity to participate in events, meetings and initiatives where they can be advocates for our mission, for our people, and for philanthropic efforts.”

Beyond their devotion to the School of Education, Redenbach and Gelatt provide their time and financial support to several UC Davis organizations:

• Gelatt was a supporter of the development of the Marya Welch Tennis Center.
• They both volunteer and give to the Mini Medical School.
• Redenbach is vice president of the Friends of Mondavi and has been volunteering as an usher since the Mondavi Center opened.
• Redenbach is also a member of the Herbert A. Young Society in the College of Letters & Science and is an active member of University Farm Circle.
• Redenbach also serves on the School’s Words Take Wing committee to promote its annual children’s literature event.

Redenbach, who struggled as a student in high school and was initially denied admission to UC Davis because of a transcript error, attributes her motivation for giving back to campus to her gratitude for her education. “For me the privilege of getting an education was huge. I didn’t expect it to happen, and I am so grateful that I was able to better my plight in life.”

Gelatt credits his wife with inspiring him to get involved. “There is something about Sandi’s passion that rubs off on you,” he said.

The Soderquist Award comes with a $5,000 prize for recipients to give to the university program or area of their choice. Redenbach and Gelatt have chosen to give the $5,000 to the Guardian Teacher Scholars to support former foster youth in their pursuit of a teaching credential at UC Davis. This program was established through a partnership between the School of Education and the Guard¬ian Scholars Program at UC Davis, with seed funding from the Stuart Foundation.

“The Guardian Scholars Program is a blessing,” said Tanya Anaya, the 2012-13 recipient of the School’s Guardian Teacher Scholarship. “Because of the program I met Barbara Goldman [director of teacher education], who gave me support and guidance and helped me develop the wings I feel almost sprouting from my back. Because of GSP I stayed in Davis, got on track, changed majors, graduated, got into the School’s teaching credential program, and began realizing my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. None of this could have happened if it wasn’t for the scholarship. I couldn’t afford such education without it.”

Always thinking about making a difference for students most in need and simultaneously trying to inspire others to give, Redenbach explained why she and Gelatt decided to give the $5,000 to the Guardian Teacher Scholarship. “We thought that the gift would give higher visibility to the program. Besides, I can’t think of anyone more at risk than someone who has lived in the foster care program. It’s important that people support other people. That’s our job, our gift for being fully human.”