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Message from the President
Dear Honorees, Families and Friends:
It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to our annual Hall of Fame
Dinner and Awards Ceremony. The Hall of Fame was established to
recognize those individuals and corporations who have made outstanding
contributions to the excellence of Cerritos College. Thousands of
students have benefitted from our honorees’ leadership, dedication and
philanthropy.
It is an honor to welcome these individuals and celebrate their
achievements as we induct them into our highest honor, our Hall of Fame.
This is a very special night for honorees, families and friends. Thank you
for attending.
Enjoy yourselves!
Dr. Linda L. Lacy
President/Superintendent
Cerritos College
Hall of Fame
Dinner & Awards Program
March 5, 2015
WELCOME
Master of Ceremonies Steve Richardson
Executive Director, Foundation and Community Advancement
PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
Dr. Linda L. Lacy
President/Superintendent
DINNER
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
Distinguished Female Athlete, Vernecia Smith
Distinguished Male Athlete, Bob Vaughn
Distinguished Coach, Rhea Black
Distinguished Alumnus, The Honorable Peter Espinoza
MUSICAL PRESENTATION -TWO PIANO MEDLEY
Dr. Christine Lopez
Cerritos College Director of the Applied Music and Piano Studies Programs
Dr. Fran Newman
Former Cerritos College Vice President of Student Services
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION (continued)
Distinguished Classified, Beverly Sweet
Distinguished Faculty, Dr. Marijean Piorkowski
Distinguished Corporate Partner, Kaiser Permanente
Distinguished President’s Award of Excellence, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
CLOSING REMARKS
Steve Richardson
Hall of Fame Sponsors
Diamond
Gold
DON KNABE
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
Silver
FWH FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Distinguished Female Athlete
Track and Field
Vernecia Smith
N
ew to racing competitively when she arrived at Cerritos College, Vernecia
became the first State Champion in the history of Cerritos College women’s
track and field team. She came from a high school that did not offer a track program, and
in her first year of competition (1980), she won the State Championship in the 400 meters
(54.89). Vernecia also qualified and placed in the 400-meter relay (47.74) – with the team
coming in fourth place – while she anchored the 1600-meter relay team that took second
place (3:52.29). She went her entire freshman season coming in first place in each of her
events and lost just once in her career with Cerritos. In 1981, Vernecia qualified for the
State Championships in all four of the same events and anchored the 1600-meter relay
team to the State Championship, State Record and a National Record. Because of her
efforts, the Falcons tied with Santa Monica College for the team state championship.
Vernecia placed third in the 400 meters at the state championships to Valerie BriscoeHooks, who went on to represent the USA in the 1984 Olympics. Vernecia ran a personal
best in the race (54.78), which stood as the college’s record for 30 years. She also placed
fourth in the 200 meters, which helped her earn a scholarship and star at the University
of Nevada-Las Vegas. As a junior, Vernecia helped turn in the nation’s fastest time in the
640-yard relay.
Vernecia has overcome many obstacles in life. Recently her biggest challenge is being
the caregiver for her brother who is a paraplegic. She has successfully worked in the
corporate world for companies such as Cardinal USA Fuel Oil and Exxon Mobil.
Distinguished Male Athlete
Baseball
Bob Vaughn
T
he most successful pitcher in Cerritos College baseball history, Bob Vaughn
was the ace of the 1966 baseball team that went 40-0 and won the state
championship. He went 16-0 with 119 strikeouts in 127 1/3 innings in that remarkable
season and concluded his two-year career at Cerritos with a school record 29 wins with
just one loss. He was a member of two South Coast Conference championship teams
that went a combined 36-0 and was voted the Metropolitan Conference Co-MVP in
1966.
After playing at Cerritos College, Bob attended the University of Southern California
where he pitched for the Trojans, was part of the 1968 PAC-8 Conference and
NCAA National Championship teams and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business
Administration. He is one of only a few people to play for two legendary coaches – Wally
Kincaid (Cerritos) and Rod Dedeaux (USC). At the conclusion of his collegiate career,
Bob had a tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After USC he continued his education
at CSU Long Beach to earn a degree in Management.
Bob works as an accountant in Orange County and is the President/ CEO of FWH
Financial Group Inc. Bob is the member of the USC Trojan Baseball Alumni Association
Board of Directors and continues to be actively involved with baseball programs at
Warren High School and Cerritos College.
Distinguished Coach
Badminton/Tennis/Volleyball
Rhea Black
R
hea Black was the first female hired to coach women’s sports at the college. From
1959 until her retirement in 1999, Rhea was instrumental in the development
of women’s athletic programs. She guided the expansion from one volleyball team that
competed in a local organization to an expanded offering of several teams competing in
state championships. Rhea oversaw the Coed Recreation Association program and served
as coach of women’s volleyball, co-ed volleyball, women’s tennis, and co-ed badminton.
She led the women’s volleyball, co-ed volleyball, badminton and tennis teams to state
championships. When several of those teams were governed by the Commission on
Athletics, Rhea guided the school to state championships in co-ed badminton (1979)
and women’s tennis (1983). She was also named the Community College Coach of the
Year for tennis in 1987.
Rhea served as athletic coordinator for the department for many years and represented the
college at the conference and state level, including serving as the state representative for
men’s and women’s tennis, as well as badminton. She also spearheaded the development
and implementation of the college’s fitness classes, fitness center and wellness programs.
Additionally, Rhea created, organized and implemented a successful intramural program
for all students during the campus free hour. She was responsible for bringing several
important athletic events to the college including a tennis match and clinic with Billie
Jean King and an international volleyball match between the Women’s National
Volleyball Teams from USA and Japan. Respected by both her students and peers, Rhea
was named as an outstanding faculty member during 1990-1991.
Since her retirement, Rhea has stayed involved in college activities and has served as the
vice president of the Cerritos College Retired Faculty Association since 2000.
Distinguished Alumnus
The Honorable
Peter Espinoza
Class of 1975
T
he Honorable Peter Espinoza attended Cerritos College after graduating from
La Mirada High School. At Cerritos he earned an Associates degree then
transferred to San Francisco State University to major in social work. An internship
opportunity in a community-based law office representing welfare recipients inspired
him to enroll in UCLA’s School of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate. Peter
acknowledges that, prior to attending Cerritos College, he was uncertain what the future
held from him. He credits the college for giving him direction and opportunities to
succeed. For three years, Peter was elected to serve as a supervising judge of the Los
Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles. He now presides as a judge for the Los Angeles
County Superior Court in Norwalk.
In January 2000, Peter and Cerritos College counselor Marcelino Saucedo developed
a program called ACCESS First for students who were on probation for non-violent
offenses and were typically first time offenders. The judges’ goal was to expose these
individuals to education as an option to street life so they could be differed from the
criminal justice system permanently.
Peter continues to give back to Cerritos College by serving on the Foundation’s Board
of Directors since 2002. In 2004, Peter and his siblings established the Esther Espinoza
Teacher TRAC scholarship in memory of their mother who always stressed education
and encouraged them to have a direction in life. In 2011, Peter was invited to be the
featured speaker at the college’s 54th annual commencement ceremony.
Distinguished Classified
Beverly Sweet
B
everly Sweet came to Cerritos College in 1979 as the first female athletic
trainer. She was instrumental in developing a certificate program for athletic
trainers, a CPR certification in First Aid classes, an internship program for CSULB
students and a partnership with Osaka Jikei College in Japan, where their students come
to our campus yearly to participate in clinics and interact with our students and faculty.
Bev also traveled to Osaka College and taught a course as a guest lecturer. She is proud
that all of these programs are still in effect today.
While her hours at Cerritos were long and weekends a continuum of the workweek, Bev
found the time to serve on numerous shared governance committees. She has always
been totally committed to our athletes, ensuring that they receive the highest quality
treatment and care. Well-respected by her colleagues, she was voted as the Classified
Employee of the Month in October 1999.
In addition, Bev also gave back professionally. She was a founding member and served
as the California representative on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Women
in Athletic Training Committee and received a State Special Service Award in 2003.
She served on several committees and took a lead in promoting continuing education
training by facilitating workshops at the national level. She also belongs to the California
Athletic Trainers Association and was elected to serve on their board for six years. After
her retirement in 2013, she has continued to teach on an adjunct basis.
Distinguished Faculty
Physical Therapist Assistant
Dr. Marijean Piorkowski
D
uring her 32 year tenure, Dr. Marijean Piorkowski guided the Physical Therapist
Assistant program through the increasingly complex national accreditation
and clinical education requirements necessary for the program’s development. She
modified and added curriculum to keep pace with the needs of the health care industry.
Marijean built and sustained the program’s reputation for excellence in the physical
therapy community. The program’s graduates are highly regarded and sought-after. She
was a stellar teacher and served as a motivating leader who had a special ability to bring
the best out of her students.
Marijean served on several campus committees; however her most revered committee
was the curriculum committee which she served twice as the chairperson and was
dubbed the “Curriculum Queen.” She truly exemplifies excellence in teaching and was
highly respected by her peers and students, being named twice as an outstanding faculty
member.
Since her retirement in 2009, Marijean remains active and continues per diem work
in clinical physical therapy as well as teaching courses in Advanced Physical Therapy
Clinical Education. She is also a national-level consultant for the accreditation of physical
therapist assistant programs. Marijean remains readily available to assist the college’s
physical therapist assistant department and is committed to its continued success.
Distinguished Corporate Partner
Kaiser Permanente
K
aiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care.
Founded in 1945 and recognized as one of America’s leading health care
providers and not-for-profit health plans, Kaiser’s mission is to provide high-quality,
affordable health care services to improve the health of its members and the communities
it serves.
For more than 35 years Kaiser Permanente has joined with Cerritos College in a variety
of partnerships. Kaiser is one of the leading providers of health care for the college’s
faculty, staff and administrators. As part of their clinical training, students in the
Cerritos College Nursing Program receive excellent training during their rotations at
the Kaiser Hospital in Downey. In 2010 Kaiser awarded the Foundation a grant for
our Student Health Services, called “Pound by Pound.” The program offered a 16-week
weight loss program focusing on individuals who were overweight and/or had chronic
health issues. The program was well received by both students and staff. In 2012 Kaiser
supported a grant for a Health Care Access/Educator for the Student Health Services.
A second grant was awarded to the Foundation in 2013 to build on the good work
accomplished by the 2012 grant which included a variety of outreach workshops, print
materials and assessments to target at-risk groups. Most recently, Kaiser funded a grant,
“Health Educator – Expanded Access to Veterans’ Medical Services” to serve the college’s
growing veterans population.
Accepting tonight’s award is Jim Branchick, Senior Vice President and Executive Director
of Downey Kaiser. He joined Kaiser in 1984 and has worked in several capacities. Jim
also serves on the Cerritos College Foundation Board of Directors as vice chairman.
Distinguished President’s Award of Excellence
Los Angeles County
Supervisor Don Knabe
S
upervisor Don Knabe is respected for the strength of his grassroots support
and considerable experience in local government, which have made him a
highly regarded voice, not only at home in the Fourth District, but in Sacramento and
Washington D.C. He was elected to the Cerritos City Council in 1980 and served as a
Councilman for eight years, including two terms as Mayor. Supervisor Knabe was first
elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in November of 1996 and was
overwhelmingly re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. He represents the Fourth
District, which is a uniquely diverse area that is home to over two million residents and
includes two of the nation’s largest economic hubs; the Ports of Los Angeles and Long
Beach, and Los Angeles International Airport and five community colleges including
Cerritos.
Supervisor Knabe has been a long-time supporter of Cerritos College. He has
generously given the college thousands of dollars in support of the ACCESS First
program, Automotive Partners Building, Project H.O.P.E., Re-Entry program, and the
Foundation’s Golf Classic and scholarship program. In 2010, Supervisor Knabe was
invited to be the featured speaker at the college’s 53rd annual commencement ceremony.
Supervisor Knabe has a true passion for education and the arts. He attributes much
of his own personal success to an early involvement with music. His enthusiasm for
the arts has resulted in the creation of several innovative youth programs, such as the
Pediatric Arts Program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, and the
Arts Education Partnership Program, which provides grants to schools and community
based organizations to fund visual art, dance, music, and theatre programs for students.
Earlier this year, Supervisor Knabe announced the start of “Operation Libraries,” a plan
to invest $45 million to upgrade county libraries in communities throughout the Fourth
District.
Kaiser Permanente is
proud to support the
Cerritos College
Foundation
Congratulations
to all the 2015
Cerritos College
Hall of Fame
inductees
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Congratulations!
To the 2015 Hall of Fame
inductees for their leadership,
dedication and
philanthropy to
Cerritos College.
Don Knabe
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
www.Knabe.com
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– ÷
ROBERT VAUGHN, EA, CFP®
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www.ataxxman.com
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4050 Katella Ave #213
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714-784-2552 fax
714-750-1904
THE ENERGY OF
» COMMUNITY
SoCalGas® congratulates
Bob Vaughn and all the Cerritos
College Hall of Fame inductees.
© 2015 Southern California Gas Company. Trademarks are property
of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
N15E0037A
The Cerritos College Foundation
is proud to be a sponsor for the
Cerritos College Hall of Fame
Dinner and Awards.
The Foundation Board of Directors wish to congratulate
the inductees to the Cerritos College Hall of Fame.
www.cerritos.edu/foundation
Pro v i d i ng l e g a l s e r vi c e s t o Ca l i f o r ni a c o m m u ni t y c o l l e g e s f o r o ve r 3 5 y e a r s .
AALRR
is proud to support the
Cerritos College Foundation
Congratulations to the 2015 Hall of Fame Honorees!
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R i ve r s i d e · S a c r a m e n t o · S a n D i e g o
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Congratulations Big Bro!
We are so proud and excited
for you to receives this honor
of being inducted into the
Cerritos College Hall of Fame!
Your career in baseball from the
time you were little until USC
and thereafter was awesome.
I am a very proud sister watching
you pitch, listening to everybody
in the stands talk of what a great
pitcher you are. I would say,
Thats my Brother!
We love you, Lil Sis and Dale
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
Uncle Bob,
Congrats on being inducted into
the Hall of Fame! Well deserved!
We are so proud and grateful for you!
Love, Alicia, Ryan and Makayla
Would like to
Congratulate
the 2015
Cerritos College
Hall of Fame Honorees
2012 Hall of Fame Inductees
Distinguished Female Athlete, Barbara Reinalda (Softball)
Distinguished Male Athlete, Ron Yary (Football)
Distinguished Coach, Wally Kincaid (Baseball)
Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Gerald P. Roodzant (Class of 1973)
Distinguished Classified/Confidential, John Gallant (Academic Affairs)
Distinguished Faculty, Dr. Edward Bloomfield (Philosophy)
Distinguished Corporate Partner, GST, Inc. (J.P. and Alice Wang)
2013 Hall of Fame Inductees
Distinguished Female Athlete, Traci Dahl (Volleyball)
Distinguished Male Athlete, Marcelo Balboa (Soccer)
Distinguished Coach/Administrator, Gene Martin (Football, Track & Volleyball)
Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Gary Smuts (Class of 1970)
Distinguished Classified, Shelley Pesanti (Communications Center)
Distinguished Faculty, Bill Lewis (Speech Communications)
Distinguished Corporate Partner, Conant Auto Retail Group (Dave Conant)
Distinguished President’s Award of Excellence, Dr. Wilford & Jean Michael
2014 Hall of Fame Inductees
Distinguished Female Athlete, Shelley Hall (Basketball)
Distinguished Male Athlete, Antonio McKee (Wrestling)
Distinguished Coach, Nancy Kelly (Softball)
Distinguished Alumnus, Eric Draper (Class of 1985)
Distinguished Classified, Carmen Garcia (Communications Center)
Distinguished Faculty, John Boyle (Biology)
Distinguished Corporate Partner, Southern California Edison
Distinguished President’s Award of Excellence, Nello Di Corpo
Hall of Fame
Steering Committee
Dan Clauss, Athletic Director
Janice Cole, College Foundation Secretary
Dr. Linda Lacy, President/Superintendent
Michelle Lewellen, Professor of Psychology &Faculty Senate President
Jeanie McHatton, Cerritos College Foundation Board Member
Mazen Nabulsi, Cerritos College Alumni & Cerritos College Foundation Board Member
Steve Richardson, Executive Director of Foundation & Community Advancement
Debbie Thomas, Retired Classified Employee
Cheryl Thury, Administrative Assistant (Confidential)
John Van Gaston, Sports Information Publicist
Distinguished Athletics Award Subcommittee
Dean Ackland, Retired Coordinator of Student Activities
Dan Clauss, Athletic Director
Debbie Jensen, Professor of Health, Physical Education & Athletics
Kodee Murray, Head Coach Women’s Softball
Russ May, Head Coach Men’s Basketball
Jeanine Prindle, Professor Emeritus Physical Education
John Van Gaston, Sports Information Publicist
Distinguished Alumnus Award Subcommittee
Janice Cole, College Foundation Secretary
Toni Grijalva, Community Relations Coordinator
Tom Jackson, Professor Emeritus of Accounting & Cerritos College Foundation Board Member
Amna Jara, Student Activities Coordinator
Mazen Nabulsi, Cerritos College Alumni & Cerritos College Foundation Board Member
Miles Aiello, ASCC Student Body President
Eric Draper, Cerritos College Alumni and 2014 Recipient
Distinguished Classified/Confidential Award Subcommittee
Kim Applebury, Administrative Secretary II (Counseling)
Janice Cole, College Foundation Secretary
John Gallant, Retired Confidential Employee and 2012 Hall of Fame Recipient
Marcia Taylor, Disabled Students Program Specialist
Etta Walton, Theatre Production Coordinator
Distinguished Faculty Award Subcommittee
Craig Breit, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts
Michelle Lewellen, Professor of Psychology
Manuel Lopez, Associate Professor of Mathematics
Dr. Solomon Namala, Associate Professor of Economics
Traci Ukita, Counselor
Distinguished Corporate Partner Award Subcommittee
Steve Richardson, Executive Director of Foundation & Community Advancement
Cerritos College Foundation Executive Committee
Special Thanks to
Dr. Fran Newman, Dr. Christine Lopez, Culinary Arts, Foundation,
Media Services, President’s Office, and Public Affairs Office
Cerritos College
Board of Trustees
Carmen Avalos
President
Dr. Shin Liu
Vice President
Marisa Perez
Secretary
Bob Arthur
Member
John Paul Drayer
Member
Dr. Sandra Salazar
Member
Zurich Lewis
Member
Daniel Flores Resendiz
Student Member
Administration
Dr. Linda L. Lacy
President/Superintendent
Dr. JoAnna Schilling
Vice President of Academic Affairs/
Assistant Superintendent
Dr. David El Fattal
Vice President of Business Services/
Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Mary Anne Gularte
Vice President of Human Resources/
Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Stephen B. Johnson
Vice President of Student Services/
Assistant Superintendent
Touching Lives Through Excellence and Service