GILROY
– Gavilan College will hand out nearly 350 degrees, certificates
and other awards when the Class of 2003 graduates at 6:30 p.m.
Friday.
GILROY – Gavilan College will hand out nearly 350 degrees, certificates and other awards when the Class of 2003 graduates at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Special tribute, however, will be paid to the yet-to-be-named Outstanding Scholar and to recently retired Trustee Jean Ottmar, who will be awarded an honorary degree by the Board of Trustees.
Ottmar is well known for her dedication to the school’s athletic department which named the Gavilan College gymnasium – where Friday’s ceremony will be held – after her late husband Bud Ottmar. The Outstanding Scholar Award is Gavilan’s most prestigious accolade, recognizing a student’s excellence in academics and involvement with the school over the course of their community college career.
In addition to Gavilan College President Steve Kinsella, who will recognize several stand out students during his remarks, special alumnus and keynote speakers will address the Class of 2003, too.
Keynote speaker Friday will be Diane Cordero de Noriega, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Cal State Monterey Bay. Noriega’s career in education has spanned decades, from instructor to professor to dean to her current position. She has won many academic honors and is considered a national leader in bilingual education.
“She’s a wonderful person and a brilliant scholar,” Gavilan Vice President John Baker said. “To have a national leader of her stature at our graduation ceremony is a compliment to all of us at the college.”
Noriega’s published work has focused on multicultural issues in education, especially bilingual education and the issues of language. She has a doctorate from UC Santa Barbara in confluent education with a bilingual, cross-cultural emphasis.
Gene Sakahara will be the alumnus speaker. Sakahara graduated from Gavilan College in 1968 and went on to get his bachelor’s degree from Cal State Chico and his master’s degree at San Jose State.
The longtime Gilroyan is currently the recruitment administrator for Gilroy Unified School District. He has held a variety of administrative positions in education, including serving as principal for Jordan School, Rod Kelley School, and San Ysidro School.
In 1998, Sakahara was named Educator of the Year by the Economic Development Corporation in Association with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. He is past president of the Gilroy Garlic Festival and has been active in the Special Olympics, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Gilroy Planning Commission.
Six Gavilan College staff will receive degrees and certificates earned while they worked at the college. Recipients are Shannon Bishop, Robin Rude, Trish Stracner, Angie Ocampo, Judy Rodriguez and Gloria Rodriguez.
Also, eight Gavilan students will be inducted into lifetime membership in the Alpha Gamma Sigma community college honor society. The students are Rosalinda Avila, Louis Mendonsa, Andrea Harvey, Laura Weathers, Paul Dickson, Karla Kobayashi, Gumoor Bassi and Vanessa Apodaca.
For more information on the graduation ceremony, visit the Gavilan College Web site at www.gavilan.cc.ca.us/current/grad_announce.html.
