Cerritos College News Release - March 2009

NORWALK, Calif. - March 30, 2009 - Sixteen scholarship winners and 63 student award winners were honored on Tuesday evening, March 24, at Cerritos College's annual Academic Excellence Awards ceremony in the Burnight Center Theatre.

The Academic Excellence Awards were created in 1981 to recognize the academic accomplishments of students in various departments throughout the college. The college believes that students recognized at the ceremony are some of the finest examples of how Cerritos College is fulfilling its mission by building futures through learning, and is excited to see what the future holds for these students who have made academic excellence a priority in the pursuit of their education.

Students must meet rigorous criteria including the completion of a minimum of 30 units at Cerritos College with a 3.5 grade point average or higher, the completion of nine units in the area of recognition with a 3.5 grade points average or higher, and the recommendation of a faculty member in the area of recognition.

This year’s ceremony began with greetings by Victor Villegas, the Cerritos College Foundation chairperson, Bill Farmer, Cerritos College acting president/superintendent and Dr. Bryan Reece, Cerritos College Faculty Senate president.

Following the welcomes, the audience enjoyed a jazz standard “How High the Moon” performed by Juan Rodriguez, guitarist and student of Martin Torres, Applied Music.

The keynote speaker Sue Parsons, professor of mathematics and director of TeacherTRAC, shared her life lessons including some quotes from her former students who had overcome hardships. Parsons encouraged students to continue to pursue what they love and stressed the importance of “interdependence” – to connect with, encourage and support each other.

Following Parsons’ inspiring speech the foundation scholarships were presented by Steve Richardson, the Cerritos College Foundation executive director and a brief biography of each recipient was given by Villegas.

The Academic Excellence Awards were presented by Cerritos College Foundation board members Bob Arthur, George Gordon, Dr. Eric T. Ikeda and Jean McHatton.

Each student’s story was truly inspiring and it will surely encourage others to aspire to excellence.

Dr. Reece concluded the ceremony by congratulating the families who supported the students as well as the award recipients. "You are now emerging as our future leaders. We applaud the hard work that brought you to this evening.”

Enlarge the photo:

Following are the names of 16 scholarship recipients:

Liliana Martinez, Richard McGrath Memorial Scholarship
Cristina Caddell, Dr. Jack Hoekzema Medical Assisting Scholarship
Micael Barnum, Dr. Keith Allen Hinrichsen Scholarship
Timothy Chen, Dr. Keith Allen Hinrichsen Scholarship
Krystiana Ruddle, Dr. Keith Allen Hinrichsen Scholarship
Daisy Garcia, English Department Scholarship
Christopher Gutierrez, English Department Scholarship
Diane Sheridan, Dr. Joan Licari Earth Science Scholarship
Lillian Garcia, Dr. Joan Licari Earth Science Scholarship
Christine Brink, Dr. Joan Licari Earth Science Scholarship
Diana Yanez, John Boyle Scholarship
Parth Desai, U.S.S. Pelias Scholarship
Tanakorn Chaivasin, Newtown Werner Chemistry Scholarship
Moonchan Ji, Glorya Welch Mathematics Scholarship
Jeff Dai, Paige “Scholar” Scholarship
Noe Navarro, Paige “Scholar” Scholarship

Following are the names of 63 award winners and the disciplines in which they are studying:

Letitia Anderson, Cosmetology
Dennis Ashley, Photography
Nelson Atangan, Automotive Mechanical Repair Technology
Joselyn Ayala, Speech Communication
Brandon Baker, Natural Sciences
Jerry Barham, Plastics Manufacturing
Micael Barnum, History
Pedro Barrios, Computer & Information Sciences Programming
Michael Barrita-Diaz, Political Science
Veronica Betance, Nursing
Christine M. Brink, Geography
Tim Carpenter, Composites Inspection
Chung-Mi June Chang, Child Development, Early Childhood
Larry Coca, Economics
Jeff Dai, Pre-Pharmacy
Consuelo Dominguez, Pharmacy Technician
John Equihua, Computer & Information Sciences Web Client Programming
Stephanie Fernandez, Court Reporting
Katelyn Foley, Microbiology
Jason Foral, Welding
Erick Galindo, Journalism
Nancy Gallardo, Administration of Justice
Daisy Garcia, Creative Writing
Norman Garza, Astronomy
Matthew J. Gaskill, Machine Tool Technology
Matthew J. Gaskill, Composites Manufacturing
Gonzalez Armando Gomez, Computer & Information Sciences Java Programming
Christopher Gutierrez, English
Sonia Gutierrez, Anthropology
Kyu Hyun Han, Mathematics
David Hemsley, Computer & Information Sciences Systems Analyst
Ty Heng, Welding
Melina Jaime, Dental Hygiene
Edward Jenkins, Dance
Vanessa Johnson, French
Hee Young Kim, Chemistry
Susannah Kim, Theatre Arts
Brian Kinney, Speech Language Pathology Assistant
Fatima Lampa, Business Accounting
Carmen Lopez, Child Development Preschool Director
Nancy Lopez, Pre-Medical
Liliana Martinez, Administration of Justice
Samuel Millard, Woodworking Manufacturing Technology
Werner Mora, Engineering Design Technology
Erik Moreno, Real Estate
Shari R. Naegle, Business Accounting
Toshiko Nagata, Child Development Infant/Toddler
Noe Navarro, Physics
Jennifer Ortega, Philosophy
Keila Palacios, CIS - Computer Science
Arianne Ponce, Architecture
Diana Ramirez, Sociology
PC Reimer, Music General
Juan Rodriguez, Music
Victor Alfonso Rojas, Engineering Design & Production Technology
Shannon Simpson, Physical Education Athletics
Daniel Snipes, Psychology
Has Sovanny, Engineering Design Technology
Vivian Velasquez, Computer & Information Sciences Programmer
Jennifer Willett, Physical Therapist Assistant
Caitlyn Michelle Williams, Child Development Special Education
Hongmei Xu, Art
Diana Yanez, Biology

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 26,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

###