The Awards
The Stoked Awards honors the achievements of individuals who embody the mission of Stoked Mentoring. The individuals have been selected for their commitment to Stoked, their community, and have achieved a high level of success in their personal and professional careers. All of these individuals are chosen because they are and can be a model of success within the Stoked community.
Stoked Achievement Award
Bob McKnight CEO of QuiksilverStoked Mentoring holds the Quiksilver Family with highest regard. Stoked is honoring Bob McKnight and Quiksilver with the 2009 Stoked Achievement Award. Quiksilver was the first company in the action sports industry that has supported Stoked since 2005. What started as a donation of 5 surfboards to get a handful of kids surfing has translated into a deep relationship that includes countless of opportunities via marketing, in-kind donations, and tens of thousands of dollars in cash. The Stoked Achievement Award is presented to an individual who embodies Stoked's mission: Success Through Opportunity, Knowledge, Experience, and Determination. The person who receives this honor has attained a high-level of professional success and has given back to the community.
Stoked Mentoring Pair Award
Jonathan Drubner MentorErick Tobar Mentee
Jonathan Drubner, or just Drubner, was matched with Erick in 2006. Erick, who lives in the MacArthur Park section of Los Angeles, has seen and been through it all. From 5 high school changes in 3 years, to gang violence on his block, to family fights, to court dates, the one constant presence in his life was, and still is, Drubner. We are all amazed at this relationship and how far it has come. When you see them together, you see the traditional mentoring relationship. When you see them surfing together, that is when you see them both shine. Erick has enough credits to graduate from high school this fall - a full semester early - and has enough personal and professional skills to become a successful adult. Drubner, no slouch either, is successful in his own right. From writing, producing, and being in front of the camera, Drubner is showing you don't have to have a Monday to Friday 9 to 5 job in order to be a positive role model. They are both a model for success. The mentoring pair who receives this honor has grown tremendously, perservered despite the odds, and is a model for success in the Stoked community.
Stoked Volunteer Award
Dan BealeyDan Bealey has been a mentor, a volunteer, and a fundraiser for Stoked since 2006. When Dan first met with Stoked Founder Steve Larosiliere in a mentor interview, Dan showed promise of wanting to become a part of a community of highly motivated adults and youth who want more out of life. A native New Yorker, Dan has picked up deliveries for Stoked on call, pushed lots of kids into waves, taught kids how to skate & snowboard, taken photographs, donated photographs to fundraisers, and raised thousands of dollars for Stoked through his friends and business associates. Most recently he helped to conceive and manage our highly successful Team Stoked program that has raised over $30,000 in the past two years. We're deeply indebted to Dan for his commitment to Stoked.