Christiane Salts was ecstatic about being honored at the Cypress College Foundation’s 39th Americana Awards. Salts was selected as the Americana Buena Park ‘Citizen of the Year.’ The awards ceremony took place Saturday, Feb.22 at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom.
Christiane Salts was ecstatic about being honored at the Cypress College Foundation’s 39th Americana Awards. Salts was selected as the Americana Buena Park ‘Citizen of the Year.’ The awards ceremony took place Saturday, Feb.22 at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom.
Salts’ involvement with Americana began in 2008 when her husband, Dennis Salts, was honored as Americana’s Buena Park Citizen of the Year. The following year she was the lucky winner of a drawing for a ticket to the Americana menu tasting at the Disneyland Hotel. She recalls the event as a once-in–a-lifetime experience that served to add another dimension to the gala.
Those who know Christiane say it’s no surprise that now she has come full circle and is being honored for her service to the community of Buena Park. Christiane was born in Lindau, Bavaria, Germany. She was raised there, as well as in White Plains, New York, and in Culver City, California.
She attended Santa Monica City College and earned her Associate of Arts degree. Christiane transferred to Loyola Marymount University and received her Bachelor of Arts in Education and English Literature, and Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance.
She also earned a Life Teaching credential and counseling credential. Christiane has worked as a teacher and educator, counselor, and program director in the cities of El Segundo, Ontario-Montclair, and Norwalk-La Mirada. She worked for three years at the JFK German-American International School in Berlin, Germany. Christiane continues to substitute teach for the Norwalk-La Mirada School District.
“I love helping people, especially young people, and watching them succeed.”
These words are underscored by her many contributions to organizations in Buena Park.
One such organization is the Buena Park Rotary Club. Christiane has been active with the Rotary Club since 2005, when she first joined. Christiane was elected President of the Buena Park Rotary Club for 2010-2011, and has held the position of Secretary and Newsletter editor for several years.
Her time in Rotary has been spent coordinating programs which will aid the community for generations to come. One such program, begun by Dr. Elizabeth Swift, the Moms of Newborns Book Bag Project, provides books for new moms and their babies, plus parenting resources.
This program serves as one of many special projects that remind Christiane of how rewarding giving back can be.
Other organizations in which Christiane is involved include the Concerned Women for America; Publicity Chair, the Fullerton Republican Women, Federated; and the Petra Woman’s Circle. She contributes time to faith-based organizations including the Care Ministry Team, a group that writes get-well cards to the ailing, and she is currently
the Women’s Spiritual Life Leader at Christ Community Church.
Christiane also holds many civic memberships, including being a Life Member of the Girl Scouts of America, a member of the Orange County and Buena Park Historical Societies and of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. She is an active member in the Buena Park Women’s Club.
A born educator with a passion for helping, Christiane has been recognized for excellence in teaching. She was chosen twice as Teacher of the Year at Dulles Elementary School, once in 1993 and again in 2008. Christiane was honored for her many years of teaching service to the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District.
With her involvement with the Rotary and other clubs, Christiane has been singled out for her commitment and willingness to serve others. In 2012, she received a District-wide Rotary Ethics in Leadership Award. In 2010,
Christiane was awarded the Cliff Dochterman Award from the International Scouting Rotarians Fellowship. She has also received the Distinguished Rotary International Presidential Citation in 2011 and the Buena Park Rotary Rotarian of the Year Award for 2012-2013, as well as the Paul Harris Fellow and Rotary Foundation Major Donor
awards presented by the Rotary International Foundation.
In 2013, Christiane and her husband Dennis were named Gold Honor Donors by the Buena Park Library. For their
work with the PTA, they both have been spotlighted by the Anaheim UHSD PTA Council in 2005, the Centralia PTA Council in 2005, and Buena Park High School in 2009.
Among her other passions, writing and literacy each holds a special place in her heart. This is evident in her biography of local figures Cordelia and Walter Knott, called “Cordelia Knott: Pioneering Businesswoman.” She recently completed a book which has ended up being a real family affair.
“I just finished collaborating with my mother, Victoria, for a book about her life growing up in Europe and immigrating to the United States as an adult. It’s been an honor to find out about her struggles and triumphs.”
Christiane cites God as a guiding force throughout her life. Also among the essential figures in her life, Christiane names her mother and her husband Dennis. She says that Dennis has been especially helpful by encouraging her in her endeavors in literacy, writing, teaching and in supporting others.
The couple were married in 1981 in La Mirada and have two daughters, Carrie Lynn Salts and Tracy Austin Clarke.
