Photos by Jen Edney / Special to The Star Lt. Matthew Kuettel, daughter Emma and his wife, Katharine, cheer for son Jacob as his entry wins a contest to find Camarillo's Mother of the Year. Jacob's writing was selected from thousands of entries.

Donna Talent of Art Illusions, left, presents a photo to Katharine Kuettel, son Jacob, daughter Emma and husband Lt. Matthew Kuettel.

As part of a competition to find Camarillo's Mother of the Year, merchants at Las Posas Plaza read through thousands of entries from schoolchildren in the city who all thought their moms were the best.

One entry from third-grader Jacob Kuettel stood out from the rest, and his mom, Katharine Kuettel, was given the title Saturday at the shopping center.

In his winning entry, 9-year-old Jacob wrote about how his mother and father adopted him after he lived in a rundown house in Texas and had a different family each year.

"Even though my mom is not my biological mom, she is the best mom anyone could ask for," Jacob wrote. "I know she will always love me and take care of me. She will never give up on me. She loves me, no matter what."

Kuettel was among several mothers who received awards and gifts from area merchants as part of the plaza's 26th annual Camarillo Mother of the Year event, which is held right before Mother's Day.

Karen Garrolini, hospital administrator at Las Posas Veterinary Medical Center and vice president of the plaza merchant's association, said the group received more than 3,000 entries from schoolchildren in the city. Merchants sponsored 23 finalists and will display the entries in their store windows until May 13.

"All the entries were wonderful. Jacob's entry though was heart-wrenching. I had tears running down my face when I read it. The whole family is incredible," said Garrolini.

In addition to his mother, Jacob's teacher, Melissa Rizer, and Colleen Brewer, principal of Cornerstone Christian School in Camarillo, received gifts and money to buy supplies for the school. In addition to many gift certificates from the merchants, Jacob received a $100 savings bond.

Kuettel, an English teacher who is currently a stay-at-home mom, said she was surprised when she received the phone call that she was chosen because she didn't know that Jacob had entered the competition. Kuettel also has a 1-year-old daughter, Emma, with her husband, Navy Lt. Matthew Kuettel.

"The fact that he took the initiative really means a lot. The fact that he sat down to write it means as much to me as what he wrote," Kuettel said. "Personally I'm flattered because there are so many amazing mothers, and motherhood is sometimes a thankless job."

Jacob said he knew his mom was the best. "She always tells me What would I do without you?'"

Matthew Kuettel, who has been in the Navy seven years, returned to the U.S. in October from Iraq. He came home from a field exercise in Northern California to attend Saturday's event.

"I'm so proud for both of them. I'm a very lucky dad and husband," Kuettel said.