"Growing up, I always had a piece of that service heart," she said. "My parents instilled that 'giving back to the community' quality in me."

The lessons stuck with her. In 2000, Cheng left a top position at NASA-Ames Research Center to fulfill her commitment to community service. Recently, she has given so much to the community that the state has taken notice.

In March, California Assemblywoman and Assistant Speaker Pro Tem Sally Lieber named Cheng "Woman of the Year" for the 22nd Assembly District, which includes Mountain View, Cupertino, Sunnyvale and parts of Los Altos, Santa Clara and San Jose. On Aug. 16, Lieber came to Cupertino to honor Cheng at a city council meeting.

"We wanted to give her special recognition in her hometown," Lieber said. "She is really truly involved in so many community causes."

Cheng has been on the Cupertino Union School District Board of Trustees since 2000 and has served as its president since last December. Cheng's work on the school board was just one of a number of factors that contributed to the award.

"We took suggestions from local community groups, and one name kept coming up," Lieber explained. "A number of folks who have known her say she is outstanding."

Some of these folks were Cheng's colleagues at NASA, where she spent 19 years working in what she calls "a wonderful set of positions."

"I began as an engineer, went on to become project manager, then became line manager," she said. By 2000, Cheng was an associate director "being groomed for higher levels of management," she said.

It was then that Cupertino community members approached Cheng to run for a spot on the school board. Cheng had long been involved in the educational community, serving the parent-teacher association and the school site council where her children attended school. Still, she wasn't sure the jump to a volunteer position was the right move.

Finances were one concern. On the board, Cheng would receive only a small stipend of $400 per month, and she had to make sure her family could withstand the drop in income.

Cheng also didn't know if she would even like working in the public sphere after so long in the private sector. She took a leave of absence from NASA and soon realized she had to make a choice.

"I didn't think that I could do each of these jobs part time," she said. The longer she was on the board, the more she felt it was the right fit for her.

"I realized I could really make an impact. I decided to leave NASA, and I haven't looked back since."

On the board, Cheng plays a large role in setting the district's educational policy.

"To me, education is an important foundational piece for the community," she said. "I care about keeping education strong."

Cheng's community service extends even further. She is president of the Santa Clara County School Board Association, which oversees 33 school districts. She is an American Red Cross board member and serves on the advisory council for United Way. Cheng also works in political arenas she says, "to support good people to go forward in public policy."

Even with her long list of accomplishments, news of the award came as a shock to Cheng.

"I was blown away," she said. "Public service is not an area where you look for recognition, so to have recognition feels very wonderful."

For Cheng's colleagues on the school board, her award was no surprise.

"Pearl is articulate, professional and compassionate," said Josephine Lucey, a school board member who has worked with Cheng for three years. "I can't think of anyone more deserving than she is."

Despite her busy schedule, Cheng finds time to spend with her husband, Bob, and two children, Meg, 12, and Bryce, 10. Family is "very important," Cheng says. She talks enthusiastically about a vacation to San Diego this year, where the family ran a 5K race to raise money for elder care and fondly recalls her second cousin's recent wedding.

"It was a wonderful, heartwarming time," she said.

Between family, friends and community service, there's hardly a free moment for Cheng. But the busy schedule doesn't faze her.

"Life is full, and I just really enjoy it," she said.