Cypress College Presents 9 With Americana Awards : Event: Those who contributed to their community are honored at banquet. It was expected to raise more than $100,000 for scholarships.

They weren’t celebrities or sports figures, these nine honorees at the Cypress College Foundation’s annual Americana Awards banquet Thursday night.

In years past, the college’s annual celebration of American culture has featured such personalities as Roy Campanella, Gene Autry and Edgar Bergen as its special guests of honor.

But this year the spotlight shone instead on nine Orange County citizens who had fed the homeless, comforted the elderly or otherwise contributed to their cities.

The black-tie affair, with 650 guests and $150 seats, was expected to raise more than $100,000 for Cypress College scholarships, said Don Bedard, the foundation’s executive director.

The college’s Americana Awards were first presented in 1976 as part of the country’s bicentennial celebration, Bedard said. The college hosted entertainers, considering them icons of American culture, as well as humanitarians.

Since 1985, however, the foundation has honored lesser-known but deserving citizens who have made significant contributions to their community, while placing greater emphasis on using the occasion for raise funds for college scholarships. The event has grown so big that it had to be moved from the college campus to the Grand Ballroom at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, where Thursday’s gathering took place.

“Even in these difficult economic times, this event continues to be extremely successful,” said Bill Wood, chairman of the foundation board. “These people we are honoring tonight represent hundreds and thousands more throughout the county. Many did not get the opportunity to be honored this way. But they are very important.”

Peter and Mary Muth were honored as Americana 1994 Man and Woman of the Year for their donations to more than 75 nonprofit organizations and to Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana.

“We’re delighted,” said Keith Nelson, foundation board president. “Peter and Mary are wonderful people. All the recipients have given so much that there is no way to put a dollar amount on their contributions.

“More and more people are coming to the front to volunteer for their community,” he added.

Also honored were seven members of communities served by Cypress College: Ned Snavely of Anaheim, Bea Botelho of Buena Park, Andrew Lachina of Cypress, Barbara Sulzbach of Garden Grove, Tito Romero of La Palma, Murl Fast of Los Alamitos and Mary Navarrette of Stanton.

“When you’ve been in a community for so long, it gives to you, and you give back,” said Fast, who expressed surprise at being honored.

Entertainment included the Orange Empire Chorus, an ensemble of 50 barbershop quartet-style singers.

Tom K. Harris, president of the college, said of the program: “It continues to mature and gain support. The money we’ve raised is very significant in helping students complete their education.”