National PTA honor bestowed

Janine Marnien

LA CRESCENTA -- Danette Erickson got involved with the Parent-Teacher

Assn. when her oldest child was in kindergarten.

Twenty-five years later, the PTA will honor her with its highest

national award of Honorary Life Membership for her years of service.

“She was an easy choice,” said Frances Mignano, president of the

Parent-Teacher-Student Assn. at Crescenta Valley High School, the group

presenting Erickson with the award. “It was just felt that she had done

so much that she deserved the highest honor.”

Erickson has served on the PTA and PTSA at Monte Vista Elementary

School, Rosemont Middle School and Crescenta Valley High School. She was

president twice for both Monte Vista and Rosemont schools, and once at

Crescenta Valley. She still serves on the school site council at

Crescenta Valley High School, an organization that oversees spending of

the school’s improvement funds.

“It’s an extremely high honor. I’m overwhelmed,” Erickson said. “I

have a great love for the PTA.”

Honorary Life Membership is a national award, given to someone who has

provided outstanding service to children and promoted education, health

and safety, Mignano said.

“Danette is the only one to receive this award by the Crescenta Valley

High School PTSA in at least three years,” Mignano said. “This is not an

award that’s just handed out.”

Community involvement was also a factor in Erickson’s selection for

the honor.

“Apart from being involved at the schools her children went to, she is

very active in her church,” Mignano said. “She is a Eucharistic minister

and was involved for many years with religious education. She is very

well known in the community for all that she does.”

The award will be presented to Erickson by Mignano during the

Crescenta Valley Town Council’s March 21 meeting.