Mason City Noon Rotary Club presents Public Service Above Self Award to Deputy Sheriff Brent Schupanitz and Tricia Sandahl, Mason City Senior Planner

February 2, 2009

The Mason City Noon Rotary Club presented its Public Service Above Self Award for 2009 to two public servants who exemplify Service Above Self.

What is Mason City Noon Rotary's Public Service Above Self Award?

The award was established in 2004 to thank our public servant's who've gone above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of the citizens of Mason City and Northern Iowa. It's presented to City and County government employees who best exemplify our mission of public service and "Service Above Self". Any City or County government employee may be nominated based on the following criteria:

• Commitment to Public Service
• Commitment to Leadership
• Commitment to Encourage Excellence
• Commitment to the Rotary Four-Way Test THE FOUR-WAY TEST of the things we think, say or do
  1 - Is it the TRUTH?
  2 - Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3 - Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4 - Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
  Wikipedia General information Rotary International

THE RECIPIENTS

City of Mason City employee, Tricia Sandahl, Senior Planner, and Cerro Gordo County employee, Brent Schupanitz, Deputy Sheriff, are this year's recipients of the Mason City Noon Rotary Club's Public Employee Service Above Self Award.

Senior City Planner, Tricia Sandahl

Tricia Sandahl had only been appointed to the position of acting Community Development director about 6 months before the Mason City floods. She was filling 3 positions during this time until a new director could be hired.

Sandahl was nominated for the award because she provided exemplary service to the citizens of Mason City related to the flood recovery.

Spending many hours helping citizens with questions related to the flood and the home buyout process, she diligently replied with truthful answers and maintained her composure in a time when emotions were high. According to Brent Trout, City Administrator,

Tricia is a hard worker that wants to see the best for our community. She carried the functions of the department forward during this time. Tricia sets high standards for herself. Her work attitude and her commitment to the City of Mason City demonstrates a good example to her peers.

Deputy Sheriff Brent Schupanitz

Brent Schupanitz has been employed as a Deputy Sheriff for 17 years.

Schupanitz received the award due to his swift and heroic efforts on December 5, 2007 when he rescued an individual from a vehicle that had went into the Winnebago River.

The vehicle had landed upside down in the river. The rushing water and ice chunks made it difficult for the car doors to open.

Schupanitz fell in the water and was pulled out by Mason City resident Kurt Walderbach, who first noticed the vehicle and was also courageous in assisting both the individuals and deputies.

After being pulled out of the water Schupanitz was able to reenter the water, get a back car door open and convinced the individual in the vehicle, who was submerged in water to his chest and suffering from hypothermia, to come out.

In December, 2008 Schupanitz received the Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor for his life saving efforts. The Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor is named for the five Waterloo brothers who died while serving together in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Congratulations to our 2009
Public Service Above Self Award recipients!

Learn more about Mason City Noon Rotary HERE About Mason City Noon Rotary Wikipedia Rotary International About Rotary International .