The Cerritos College athletic department will have two of its own honored by the Commission on Athletics in Ontario on April 4 for their individual excellence.

Dance instructor Janet Sanderson, who has been a faculty member and department chair at Cerritos for over 25 years, has been selected the State Community College Organization of Physical Educators (SCOPE) Dance Educator of the Year.

Additionally, Ana Zarrahy, who has been the Health, Physical Education and Athletics division secretary since 1982, has been named the SCOPE Administrative Professional of the Year.

The purpose of SCOPE is to raise funds to promote California Community College Physical Education with a goal to identify and support or oppose new legislation in the California legislature where they continue to be misunderstood and singled out for poor legislation.

Their goal is to also continue to improve the membership so they can become a larger voice in the governance of the State, as well as submit a revision recommending changes in the Disciplines List for Minimum Qualifications for faculty hired in Physical Education.

As a director, choreographer and performer in over 150 musical productions, Sanderson’s dance career has included five Broadway shows and numerous summer stock companies throughout the United States.

As the only full-time faculty member in the dance department, she is responsible for an amazing dance department and has developed an inspiring curriculum of dance classes.

Not only has she served as a guest lecturer throughout the state, Sanderson directs, supervises, assists in choreographing and creates two outstanding dance performances each year.

During her tenure, Sanderson has been a wonderful mentor and has worked with a selection of eminent and distinguished adjunct faculty that have come to Cerritos College for their first community college teaching experience.

As a result, no less than 15 have gone on to full-time teaching positions in dance, with is a direct result of Sanderson’s mentoring abilities.

With the daily responsibility of working with 16 full-time and 50 part-time faculty members that depend on her everyday, Zarrahy developed the ability to multitask and has an amazing memory for detail.

For the last 25 years, Zarrahy has worked with no fewer that 14 division deans and is the longest serving division secretary on campus.

She is often called upon for her experience and “institutional memory”, while her professionalism and dedicated efforts allow the faculty, classified and administrative personnel in the department the opportunity to support student success throughout the campus. Full story and photos posted on Cerritos Athletics Web page.