THOUSAND OAKS : Ex-Educator to Get Leadership Award

Mark Mathews, former president of Cal Lutheran University, will receive the Conejo Future Foundation’s Civitas Award today. The award is given for outstanding leadership in community service.

“Dr. Mathews has been exemplary with his involvement in the community on many levels,” said Berniece Bennett, a former Civitas recipient and a Westlake Village city councilwoman. “He’s honest, sincere, caring, involved, a great family man--just all the attributes we were looking for.”

The Conejo Future Foundation is a 21-year-old organization that serves as a catalyst for citizens interested in improving the quality of life in the area. Mathews is the 11th recipient of the Civitas Award.

Mathews, who served as president of Cal Lutheran from 1972 to 1980, also started the foundation’s Youth Congress, an annual event that brings high school students together to debate controversial issues affecting their lives. He is the founder of the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the charity started by former President Jimmy Carter to provide housing for low income residents.

In addition, he has also been involved as a volunteer with the Alliance for the Arts, the Conejo Symphony Orchestra, the American Heart Assn. and the United Fund of Ventura County.

“I’m appreciative of this award because it represents a commendation of those of us who are volunteers,” he said.

Mathews also worked as a professor at Cal Lutheran, both before and after his tenure as president. He retired from the university two years ago.

This year’s Civitas reception will be held at the home of Westlake Village residents Bettina and Steve Salvoldelli. For more information, call Carol Wisniewski at the foundation at 495-8711.