Local educators were honored in style at a red carpet soiree, under the stars, at the California Yacht Club.
The Venice community came out en mass to support the event, with: L.A. City Councilwoman Traci Park and her team, State Senator Candidate Mike Newhouse, and the family of Joelle Dumas, the creator of the WAVE Awards, just a few of local dignitaries in attendance.
And Venice Paparazzi was on the scene to document it all! We set up a swanky red carpet/step & repeat entrance activation. got the arrival shots, and had our ace photographers on site to cover the entire celebration. View all the epic photos below.
Here is a message from the VCC Education Committee:
“The Venice Chamber of Commerce and Venice Paparazzi rolled out the red carpet for the 15th Annual We Are Venice Education Awards on Thursday, May 8th at the CA Yacht Club!
It had biggest turnout yet, with 170 attendees, along with special guests and elected officials- Allison Holdroff Pohill with District Director & Advisor LAUSD Board, District 4, Traci Park, the City Councilwoman, Zachary Gaidzik, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Field Representative and Sam Gallegos– Senator Ben Allen’s Office Field Representative. 12 teachers who exhibited the qualifications of Cultivating Character, this year’s theme, received the colorful Apple Trophies, and Allison Holdorff Polhill received the Joelle award.
Congrats to this year’s 2025 Awardees:
- Leticia Rodriguez, Broadway Elementary
- Melanie Megevand Aguirre, Ecole Claire Fontaine
- Angelica Rios, Mark Twain Middle School
- Coffee Kang, Venice Arts
- Jessica Hernandez, Short Avenue Elementary
- Nita Derrett, Westminster Elementary School
- Rachel Woodbridge, Mishkon Tephilo
- Jarred Phillips, New Roads School
- Ayleen Ayllon, Boys & Girls Club of Metro LA
- Taylor Vivanco, Venice High School
- Jimmy Weber, Venice Skills Center
- Nancy Chin, Walgrove Elementary School
- The Joelle Award for Excellence in Education: Allison Holdorff Polhill, District Director & Senior Advisor LAUSD Board, District 4
The sponsors included: LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office, SoCal Gas, CD11, JINS Tokyo, Google, Ecole Claire Fontaine, HackerFund, Nick Melvoin, Cedars-Sinai, Pardee Properties and the Venice Whaler.
The CEO of the Venice Chamber of Commerce, Karin Wallerstein, MC’d the event and with a bright and sunny backdrop of boats and the marina, a wonderful night was had by all with emotional and heartfelt acceptance speeches. Joelle Dumas’ daughter, Gwendoline Pere LaHaille presented Allison with Joelle Award, the 3rd recipient of this distinguished honor! Door prizes were given out as well and attendees dined on a tasty Mexican buffet and went home with the beautiful flower arrangements that served as centerpieces. Award winners also brought home gift bags with goodies from Levain Bakery, JINS eyewear, Fras Organic Iced Tea, Sacheu Beauty, Wurstkuche Restaurant, Perfect Balance Trail Mix, Shefa Yoga and Zebi Art.
Thanks to our prize donors: JBI gift certificate, The Kinney gift certificate, Hotel Erwin gift certificate, Andrea Tan Vase, Venice Breeze Suites, Venice Suites, Hacker Fund, Pro Sup Shop, Truxton’s American Bistro (2 gift cards), Perfect Balance Trail Mix, and Shefa Yoga.
Venice Chamber of Education Committee – Chair: Chantel Hunter Mah, Bonnie Roche-Blair, David Stine, Justin Brezhnev, Gwendoline Pere-Lahaille, Karen La Cava, Karin Wallerstein, Laura Alice Scaturro, Sunny Bak and Mario Velasco
View event pics by Venice Paparazzi’s Edizen Stowell, Eric Allen, Alex Stowell, and Akemi Rico.
Need photographers for your event? Hire your local photographers Venice Paparazzi.
Councilwoman Traci Park and Venice Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Karin Wallerstein
Team CD11: Venice Deputy Sean Silva, Councilwoman Traci Park, and District Director Juan Fregoso
CEO of the Venice Chamber of Commerce, Karin Wallerstein 
Right: James Dumas
Venice Chamber President Sunny Bak
Center: Joelle Dumas’ daughter, Gwendoline Pere LaHaille and Laura Alice 
Center: Karin Wallerstein Right: Mike Newhouse
The Joelle Award for Excellence in Education: Allison Holdorff Polhill, District Director & Senior Advisor LAUSD Board, District 4
Clay and James Dumas
The Venice Art Crawl team: Madeleine Quinn, Karen La Cava, Mike Newhouse, Edizen Stowell, David Stine, and VAC President Sunny Bak
Bonnie and Past Venice Chamber CEO Donna Lasman
Michael & Karen Wallerstein, Venice Chamber Education Committee Chair Chantel Hunter Mah, Venice Paparazzi’s Alex Stowell, and David Stine
Justin Shields, Laura Alice, Venice Chamber Education Committee Chair Chantel Hunter Mah, Michale and Karen Wallerstein, Karen La Cava, and David Stine
Thanks to the Venice Chamber of Commerce Education Committee for hosting a beautiful event for our local teachers!
- Join the Venice Chamber of Commerce Education Committee! Visit VeniceChamber.net for more info!
Looking for your 2025 WAVE Awardee photo? Find it here!
Event pics by Venice Paparazzi’s Edizen Stowell, Eric Allen, Alex Stowell, and Akemi Rico.
Go down memory lane with Venice Paparazzi photos! Venice Paparazzi has covered the WAVE awards every single year since it started in 2011.
Need photographers or a photo booth for your next event?
- Hire your local photographers Venice Paparazzi. HireVP.com
