13th Annual Alumni Awards Banquet- Another Major Success
Over 130 Alumni, Faculty and Friends in Attendance
The beautifully decorated dining room of the Oakmont
Country Club filled with over 130 of Glendale Community College’s
faculty, alumni and friends, as they arrived to enjoy a festive
evening honoring this year’s three very special Alumni Award
recipients. Leonard DeGrassi, Art History Professor Emeritus,
was chosen by the Alumni Board to receive the J. Walter Smith
Award for Distinguished Service to the college. Tom R. Miller,
director of the Glendale Community Foundation was the committee’s
choice for the Raymond D. Edwards Award of Merit for Career
Achievement. Patricia Mack, President of the Patrons Club, was
awarded the Annual Patrons Club Presidential Award, honoring her and
all of the outstanding members of her organization for their hard work
and dedication to Glendale Community College.
Jeff McDonough, Secretary of the Alumni Association, began the
evening by leading guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. Alumni
Association Vice President Virginia Sarkissian then introduced
a few of the many officials and dignitaries in attendance, including
State Assemblyman Dario Frommer, representatives from the
office of Congressman Adam Schiff, L.A. Country Supervisors Michael
Antonovich, and State Senator Jack Scott, as well as GUSD
Superintendent James Brown and his wife, GUSD Board of
Education President Jeanne Bentley, Louise Foote,
Members of the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees, Mayor Dave
Weaver ,Glendale Community College Foundation President Dave
Greenbaum ,and Executive Director of the Glendale Community
College Foundation, Ann Ransford.
After the introductions, guests were treated to several rousing
musical selections by pianist Sarkis Kazarian and soloist Juliette
Miller. When the performances ended , Dr. Nancy Knight,
Vice President College Services, warmly greeted all those in
attendance and gave special thanks to Glady Kabateck, M.S. ,Director
of the Alumni Association for the hard work and support that she has
given the Alumni this year. Dr. Jewel Price, Dean of Student
Services took the stage to thank the Alumni Association Vice President
and Banquet Chairperson Virginia Sarkissian and the members
of the Alumni Association Board for their help in making this year’s
banquet such a major success.
After these acknowledgements, Vice President Virginia Sarkissian
presented Alumni Association scholarships to ten students who were
chosen by the committee for their academic excellence, and their
involvement in both campus and community activities. The scholarship
winners for 2001 were Baher Boctor, Karla Coti, Victoria
Hawthorne, Daniel Kilbride, Marco Llaguno, Alice
Marie Mallari, Rachel Melikian, Sherly Mosessian, Margaret
Salazar and Jean Schindler.
Next, Dr. John A. Davitt, Superintendent/ President of
Glendale Community College presented Patrons Club President, Patricia
Harris Mack with the Patrons Club Presidential Award for 2000. Raymond
D. Edwards then arrived on stage to present Tom Miller
with his award of merit for career achievement and congratulated him
for his impressive career and his dedication to community service. The
audience clapped in unison as Dr. John Davitt returned to the
stage to present Professor Leonard DeGrassi with the J.
Walter Smith Service Award for De Grassi’s long time
service to Glendale College and the Alumni Association. Guests were
thrilled when J. Walter Smith joined Dr. Davitt
at the podium to extend his personal congratulations to Professor
DeGrassi.
At the evening’s end, Glady Kabateck took the stage
and congratulated the award winners and thanked all of the
night’s presenters, as well as Virginia Sarkissian and the
members of the Alumni Board. She also extended a special thanks to Dr.
Davitt, Dr. Nancy Knight, and Dr. Jewel Price. |
