City Recognizes Community Honorees at Celebrating Cerritos

Details

The Cerritos City Council recognized 11 community members, civic volunteers, and businesses at its Celebrating Cerritos event on Monday, August 24. The quarterly occasion launched in May and is conducted as part of a special meeting of the City Council.

Honorees included this year’s Distinguished Young Women of Cerritos-Artesia, a Junior Olympics All-American, outgoing Friends of the Cerritos Library Board members, outgoing Cerritos Advisory Board members, and the City’s Business Spotlight recipients for July and August.

“Cerritos is an extraordinary community; a characteristic reflected in its people,” said Mayor Lynda Provido Johnson. “The City Council takes great pride in honoring residents, local businesses, student achievers, community organizations, and dedicated volunteers for their significant accomplishments and contributions. Each of these individuals and organizations help make up the fabric of our community and contribute to what makes Cerritos such a special place to live.”

All Celebrating Cerritos honorees receive a Certificate of Recognition for their outstanding accomplishments.

Distinguished Young Women of Cerritos-Artesia

Distinguished Young Women Cerritos-Artesia is part of a national program for high school girls, providing life skills workshops, professional development, and college scholarship opportunities. Recipients honored at Celebrating Cerritos included Whitney High School seniors Anoushka Rajeev, Katherine Low, and Lauren Ma.

Rajeev is the Distinguished Young Woman of Cerritos-Artesia West. She serves as President of both the Model United Nations and Mock Trial programs for the school. Rajeev received the "Best Delegate" award at the National High School Model United Nations conference in New York City this past March.

Low is the Distinguished Young Woman of Cerritos-Artesia Central. She serves as captain of the Whitney Cross Country Team and captain of the Whitney Swim Team. An experienced musician, Katherine was honored as one of three Talent Winners at the California Distinguished Young Women State Finals for her piano performance of “Fountain in the Rain.”

Ma is the Distinguished Young Woman of Cerritos-Artesia East. Through the Whitney UNICEF Club, Ma coordinated fundraisers and service projects at local elementary school events, food banks for refugees, and women's shelters. Ma organized a voter registration drive this past spring that encouraged civic engagement to over 200 students.

Junior Olympic All-American

Aaliyah Bryant is a USA Track and Field Junior Olympic All-American. Bryant earned the distinction of two-time All-American with her performance in the 800-meter run and 4x400 meter relay at the 2026 USA Track and Field Jr. Olympics held at Cerritos College this summer. Bryant’s individual race and her team’s relay times ranked 3rd and 4th in the nation, respectively.

Friends of the Cerritos Library Board Members

Friends of the Cerritos Library Board members volunteer their time to support Cerritos Library staff, services, and various activities, including operation of the Friends Book Store and regular book sales. The City Council recognized outgoing Board members.

Manuel Ortega was a Board member on the Friends of the Cerritos Library from 1989 to 2026. His leadership roles have included President, Parliamentarian, and Membership Chair. Ortega assisted in book sales and the Friends Book Store, among other activities.

Tracy Winkler was a Board member on the Friends of the Cerritos Library from 1978 to 2026. Winkler is a Past President of the organization. She’s supported book sales, sorted donated materials, and contributed articles to the Friends’ newsletter, among other activities.

Advisory Board Members

Advisory Boards are made up of individuals appointed by the City Council and provide guidance and recommendations in determining how to meet the City’s needs and serve the community. Cerritos has five commissions and two committees. The City Council recognized three outgoing Advisory Board members.

Alex Camargo served as Commissioner on the Cerritos Parks and Recreation Commission from March 2025 to March 2026. The Parks and Recreation Commission advises the City Council and City staff in matters relating to parks and recreation facilities and programs.

Kenneth Chiang served as Commissioner on the Economic Development Commission from June 2025 to June 2026. The Economic Development Commission advises the City Council and City staff on the needs of existing businesses and the availability of economic development opportunities and resources.

Deepak (DJ) Jhaveri served as Commissioner on the Planning Commission from May 2022 to August 2026. The Planning Commission is an advisory body to the City Council and City staff in establishing policies, reviewing zoning applications and development plans.

Business Spotlight

Each month, the Business Spotlight program features long-time Cerritos-based businesses that have played an important part of the City’s business community. Featured businesses are those that have chosen Cerritos as their home and whose story highlights the benefits of locating in the City. The City Council recognized the Business Spotlight recipients for the months of July and August.

Dr. Robert H. Gregg II, DDS, is the Business Spotlight recipient for July. Dr. Gregg is the Founder, President, and Chairman of the Board for Millennium Dental Technologies, Inc., which has been a hub for laser dentistry innovation in Cerritos since 1994. Dr. Gregg co-developed the FDA-cleared PerioLase MVP-7™ laser and patented Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure, bringing minimally invasive periodontal care to thousands of patients worldwide. Dr. Gregg is the Co-Founder and Program Director for the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, which since 1999 has trained clinicians globally and provides over $750,000 in free dental treatment to the community each year.

UQuality Automotive Products, LLC is the Business Spotlight recipient for August. Since 1999, UQuality Automotive Products has served as a supplier and distributor of automotive aftermarket products. Specializing in brake drums, rotors, and pads, UQuality Automotive Products supports customers and installers across the automotive aftermarket industry with a commitment to product consistency, reliability, fit, form, and function.

The Cerritos City Council will hold its next quarterly Celebrating Cerritos event in November.

For More Information

Photos of the Celebrating Cerritos honorees can be found on the City's social media platforms. To learn more about Cerritos City Council meetings and to view agendas, visit cerritos.gov/agendas.