SACRAMENTO
CSAC celebrates County innovation at inaugural Challenge Awards Dinner
The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) hosted its inaugural Challenge Awards Dinner Thursday night, celebrating the ingenuity and dedication of counties in tackling some of the state’s most pressing challenges. While this is the first event of its kind, the CSAC Challenge Awards have been a cornerstone of the Association for more than 30 years, recognizing groundbreaking programs that improve lives across California.
This year’s event held special significance as 2025 marks the 175th anniversary of the incorporation of California’s original 27 counties. Counties have long been the foundation of local governance, providing critical services and fostering innovation to meet the evolving needs of their communities.
“Innovation has been a defining characteristic of California’s counties since their inception 175 years ago,” said CSAC President and Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths. “From the earliest days of statehood to today, counties have continuously adapted, creating solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives. The Challenge Awards celebrate that enduring spirit of innovation.”
This year, CSAC is honoring 16 outstanding programs from 11 counties, reflecting the diverse and dynamic ways counties serve their communities. The winning counties include:
Riverside County – three awards
Nevada County – two awards
San Diego County – two awards
Solano County – two awards
Fresno, Lake, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, and Sonoma Counties – one award each
A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Innovation Award, which is given to the highest-scoring programs in the competition. This year, Los Angeles, Nevada, and Sonoma Counties were recognized for their trailblazing initiatives that set new standards for local government excellence.
“Counties are the boots on the ground and the primary service provider for communities,” said CSAC Chief Executive Officer Graham Knaus. “The programs we honor through the Challenge Awards demonstrate counties’ vital role in delivering real solutions that bring state priorities to life. These award-winning initiatives are not just improving lives locally – they are setting models that can be replicated across the state and nation.”
With 419 entries submitted this year, the Challenge Awards showcase the breadth of creativity and problem-solving that define county government. CSAC is proud to highlight the innovative spirit that has driven California’s counties for 175 years and counting.
For more information on the CSAC Challenge Awards and the 2024 award-winning programs, visit www.counties.org/challenge-awards.
California State Association of Counties (CSAC) is the voice of California’s 58 counties at the state and federal level. www.counties.org
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LAKEPORT
Lake County Chapter of CWA announces opportunity to apply for scholarships
The Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture (LCCWA) is pleased to begin accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors and college or vocational students now through April 15, 2025 for the 2024/2025 academic year. Scholarship awards may range between $500 and $2500. Applicants must be pursuing a degree that is related to agriculture and planning to attend a two- or four-year program, as a full-time student.
The Lake County Chapter of CWA is committed to promoting agriculture within Lake County through its Ag Venture educational program and throughout the state by speaking with California’s state representatives, about the issues facing agriculture. Supporting students pursuing a career in agriculture is a top priority. Since 2013, the chapter has awarded over $62,000 in scholarships to local students, including $8000 awarded in 2024.
Lake County graduating high school seniors and college or vocational students who have a grade point average of 3.0 or above are eligible to apply. Application materials must be received by CWA on or before April 15, 2025. The application and criteria are made available at www.lakecountycwa.org. For questions concerning the scholarship program, please contact Sausha Racine at 707.245.4787.
About Lake County chapter of California Women for Agriculture
The Lake County Chapter of CWA (LCCWA) actively educates its members and the public about matters concerning agriculture at both the County, State and Federal levels. LCCWA awards scholarships to students pursuing agricultural-related education and provides mini-grants to teachers in local schools who are educating their students about agriculture and food.
In addition, LCCWA sponsors Ag Venture, an educational program for community leaders who wish to learn more about agriculture. To learn more about the organization or Ag Venture, please go to our website at www.lakecountycwa.org.
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