VALLEY WOMAN HONORED FOR VOLUNTEERISM.

Byline: SIMONE SCHRAMM Community columnist

Reading Is Fundamental, the nation's largest nonprofit literacy organization, honored Patt Zimbelman of Valley Village with the Anne Richardson RIF Volunteer of the Year Award for 2002.

Zimbelman, who received a $1,000 award, was feted by Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian and other officials at a recent ceremony in Glendale. U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein sent commendation letters.

Since 1986, Zimbelman has worked to give children the opportunity to read. Starting out as a creative reading volunteer, Zimbelman now serves as president and acting executive director of the organization.

``I've always been a reader,'' she said. ``When I heard that children had no access to books, which is the key component in learning how to read, I looked around for a program that would provide literacy and access to books.''

Working within a 120-mile area from the Antelope Valley to Long Beach, RIF volunteers work with about 32,000 children each year.

``That is more than 100,000 books by the end of the day,'' Zimbelman said.

``It's a simple program but it's a very sophisticated program. It has a lot of layers.''

She said the program empowers children because they get to choose their own books - a rare treat for many of them. When given that opportunity, Zimbelman finds that children are selective shoppers.

Aside from her extraordinary volunteer work, Zimbelman works as coordinator at a television commercial production company where she's been for 18 years and spends the rest of her time with her husband, children and grandchildren.

Rachael Sheridan, a 16-year-old junior at Campbell Hall School in North Hollywood, recently attended the National Young Leaders Conference. She was among 400 outstanding students from around the country chosen to attend the Washington, D.C., conference.

This year's theme was entitled ``The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today.'' During the event, she interacted with key leaders from all branches of government, the media and the international community.

Highlights of the conference included welcoming remarks from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and a panel discussion with prominent journalists from the National Press Club.

Math teacher Robert Brown recommended Rachel because of her outstanding leadership skills.

Looking to the future, Rachel wants to be a biologist or an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Three seniors from Viewpoint School in Calabasas were named scholars by the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program.

The students are among the top 3,800 Hispanic high school seniors nationwide to be recognized by the board for exceptional performance on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and for academic achievement.

The Viewpoint School scholars are:

Elizabeth Acosta of Moorpark, Brittany Hoffman of Calabasas and Jessica Lessing of Agoura Hills.

California State University, Northridge, President Jolene Koester and the Alumni Association honored 22 campus volunteers at the university's inaugural Volunteer Award Ceremony on Thursday.

Three volunteers received a special honor, the Dorothea Heitz Outstanding Volunteer Award, for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of the university. Heitz, for whom the award is named, is one of the first three volunteers to receive the honor. She is responsible for building the university's spirit squad into its current form - an entity that not only fosters school spirit but serves as a model to impress the importance of community and campus service.

Other winners of the Heitz award are:

Wayne Adelstein, 69, who publishes several community newspapers in the San Fernando Valley, and Alma Zatarain, 80, who has been an active member of the Alumni Association's Board of Directors.

The remaining award recipients are:

Robert Barker, David Brady, Sesar Carreno, Morris Cutler, Jolie DeVorin, Loree Fink, Carlos Fuentes, Daisy Kuhn, Margorie McGregor, Alan Meyer, Joni Novosel, James Overall, David Phelps, Joseph Russo, Jackie Schroggin, Don Sepulveda, Patrick Smith, Del Stelck and Christopher Whittington.