The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley honored Gerri McCorkle, a deputy sergeant with the Sheriff’s Department as the winner of the annual Carmen Sarro Award during the organization’s annual brunch recently held at the Valencia Country Club.
“A leader for the Girl Scouts since 1999, McCorkle’s strongest community service has been dedicated to building character and success for girls,” noted longtime Zonta member Pat Willett. Named in memory of Sarro, a long time community volunteer whose energy knew no bounds, the award honors women in the community for their work on behalf of improving the status of women through community service.
In addition to McCorkle, the 12 nominees included: Dorothy Anderson, SCV Friends of the Libraries; Colleen Shaffer, Circle of Hope; Tera McHugh, Women Entrepreneurs of Santa Clarita Valley; McCorkle; Barbara Stearns-Cochran, Daughters of the British Empire and Child and Family Center Foundation; Shelley Hann, Betty Ferguson Foundation and Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Guild; Rosie Smith, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Auxiliary; Jill Mellady, Michael Hoefflin Foundation; Terri Lee Cadiente, The Ragdoll Restoration Foundation; Melanie Sedam, Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley; Jorja Harris, Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley and Kelly Burke, American Association of University Women. Event co-chairs Judy Penman and Karen Maleck-Whiteley presented each with a yellow rose, the symbol of Zonta International. Christine Sexton, Sarro’s daughter, presented McCorkle with the award. Zonta member Marla Khayat said, “It is evident when going through the applications that the Santa Clarita Valley is blessed with so many giving people.” 