San Carlan of the Year

Recognizing Excellence in Service, Generosity, and Leadership

This award honors individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to our community through dedicated service, significant charitable contributions, and catalytic leadership.

If you know an outstanding San Carlos Resident - who through outstanding community service or volunteerism, had a significant impact on the community, please nominate them for San Carlan of the Year 2025.  Nominees will be reviewed by a committee of recent winners and other community leaders.  A nominee's contributions should have been made over the past year or few years.  The 2025 recipient will be honored at The San Carlos Celebration: Building our Community Together event on April 16, 2026. 

To be eligible, nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Residency: The nominee must currently reside in San Carlos or have lived in the city during the 2025 calendar year.

• Nature of Service: nominees must have demonstrated outstanding community service, generosity, and leadership.

• Volunteer Status: Service must be performed on a voluntary basis, falling outside the scope of the nominee's regular, paid professional responsibilities.

• Elected Official Restraint: Current local elected officials (such as City Council or School Board members) are ineligible. They may only be nominated after they have been out of office for at least two years.

• Submission: Nominations are welcome from both individuals and organizations.

Deadline: February 1, 2026

Prior San Carlos Citizens of the Year

From 1974 through 2020, the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce selected the San Carlos Citizen of the Year, an award that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the San Carlos community. Past recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to volunteerism, civic engagement, and improving the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, learns, and plays in San Carlos. They have been involved in a variety of activities, including serving on city boards and commissions, organizing community events, and supporting local businesses and organizations.

The Community Foundation of San Carlos brought back this annual award starting in 2024. with a new name - San Carlan of the Year - recognizing that many residents do not hold US citizenship.

We honor past recipients of the award: