Awards presented by Bonsall Chamber, new board installed

At the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce Installation, Awards and Dinner Dance, held Saturday, November 4, at Vista Valley Country Club, distinguished awards were presented to three individuals and the 2007 Board of Directors was installed.

The honorees, Mary Jane Tukua, Nelly Jarrous and Diane Hogencamp, were feted for their individual accomplishments.

Mary Jane Tukua, a teacher at Bonsall West Elementary School, earned the distinction of being named Teacher of the Year.

“I believe that my personal background has given me a sensitivity and understanding for my students that is not easily learned without life experiences,” Tukua said in a written statement. “Teaching is more than a job to me. I have a passion for teaching and that passion has grown stronger and stronger through the years. I work hard to figure out ways to make learning fun and exciting for my students. I want them to love coming to school each day.”

“My first priority every year is to do everything in my power to develop and strengthen each of the students in my care — academically, socially, emotionally and behaviorally,” she said. “Every student in my class is highly valued. Each child knows that he/she is loved by his/her teacher, but also that his/her teacher expects excellence.”

Nelly Jarrous was honored at the gala by the Bonsall Chamber as the Community Service Leader of the Year. Jarrous, the widowed mother of three children who attended Bonsall schools, actively helps with PTA events. After her husband Rida’s death, Nelly took over running the family’s business, Colonial Auto Body in Oceanside. She also tends to the demands of a seven-acre grove.

Jarrous is said to take challenges head-on as she immerses herself in her business, church and hometown communities. An active member of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, she built another collision center in Temecula and duplicates her immersion in both the Temecula and Murrieta Chambers of Commerce. She has served in many board positions for Soroptimist International of Vista and is a board member of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors).

Jarrous has supported Bonsall Honorary Mayoral candidate Tony Flores for the past two years as his campaign manager. She is present at almost every Bonsall Sundowner and is always willing to help in their community events.

Diane Hogencamp, manager of Prudential California Realty in Bonsall, was honored as Business of the Year. With 25 years of corporate experience, Hogencamp has worked with many charitable organizations, such as United Way, Swing from the Heart, (which benefits the Palomar/Pomerado Hospital Foundations), Escondido Youth Encounter and Project Concern.

After a long and successful career in corporate finance and administration, Hogencamp went into real estate. She soon realized that real estate, and more specifically, Prudential, gave her the opportunity and flexibility to have the prosperous career she had longed for in addition to the ability to raise her family.

Soon after beginning her career as an agent, she was promoted to manage the Escondido Prudential California Realty office, which opened its doors in 1997. That office quickly grew from four agents to 125 by 2002. Hogencamp was then asked to take over the Bonsall/Fallbrook office.

“Bonsall’s Prudential California Realty office is full of agents with heart just like [founder] Steve Games,” she said. “They want to help their clients have a piece of the American Dream. They have integrity, they work hard and they give back to our community.”

Top producing agents in the company joined forces with Hogencamp to help grow the Bonsall office to the great success it is today, with 46 professional Realtors and still growing. One of the first activities Hogencamp took on was to help sponsor a Web site for Bonsall Elementary School. Numerous Prudential California agents are involved in community activities that benefit a wide variety of ages.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce also installed their 2007 Board of Directors at the gala event. The Executive Board consists of Leigh Ann Howard of San Luis Rey Downs Thoroughbred Training Center, president; Tony Flores of Countrywide Home Loans, vice president; Andrea Aston of Morrison Law, treasurer; and Laura Rosier of SLRD Thoroughbred Training Center, secretary. Directors include Ronne Branson of Branson Travel, Cory Carrier of Ace Mobile Music.com, Gary Evans of Fireside Antiques, Betty Knapp of Baskets D’Lite, Monique Murphy-Mijares of Fallbrook Hospital and Bonsall Honorary Mayor Jill Marie Thorburn.

At the gala, a silent auction was held and net proceeds will go to buy gifts for the local needy children for the holidays.