Twelve faculty members were honored for commitment to education during the 2006-07 Outstanding Faculty Awards held in the Student Center last Thursday. More than 200 faculty and students were in attendance.
Those who were honored as Outstanding Faculty were:
? Kamal Deminan, Math instructor? Margaret Hohly, Computer and Information Science Instructor? Christina Lopez de Gaines, Admission and Records Counselor? Debra Moore, Librarian ? Kodee Murray, Athletics instructor? Hagop Najarian, Arts Instructor? Michael Pierini, Culinary Arts Instructor? Frances Soderling, Dental Hygiene Instructor? Mark Tait, Welding Instructor? Farid Wissa, Engineering Design Technology Instructor? Erik Mortensen, Woodworking Instructor
In addition, the Most Outstanding Faculty was John Haas, history instructor. Furthermore, those who were honored for 25 years of services were:
? William McFadden, math instructor? Phillip Salazar, Counseling? Martha Yeager, ESL instructor
For those honored for 30 years of services
? Bruce Johnson, Welding Instructor? Marijean Piokowski, Physical Therapist Assistant? Jeanine Prindle, Physical Education Instructor
Lastly, Donna Miller, Speech instructor was honored for 35 years of service
However, when the recognition of Haas for the Most Outstanding award for the continuing work of educating students about global issues and commitment to the Global Consortium by Walter Fernandez, history instructor, there was a call for the Board of Trustees and administration to commitment to having funding for its 5 percent reserves.
The reserves are the money in the college’s annual fiscal budget that isn’t used and is kept for extra funding.
That is where Fernandez questioned that if the Board and administration is commitment to education and if an instructor is trying to educate like Haas who has traveled to other countries such as Singapore and have spoken to the U.N., then why is that “extra” money used for that purpose to further education.
The Global Consortium is the opportunity educated students on international issue of humanity. Among those who have come to Cerritos to discuss issues of humanity as well as understanding those of any background is Dr. Judea Pearl.
Pearl, who loss his son Daniel who was a journalist kidnapped and murdered by Islamic extremists in Karachi, Pakistan as he was investigating links between Al Qaeda and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence is just an example Fernandez stated that should continue. “Within Haas’ teaching the thing that happens is that there is a change of mindset about issues,” Fernandez said.
With that he urged that the Board look into keeping the reserves were it should be; that is at 5 percent because of the commitment to education.
Despite that, following the awards those who were in attendance had mixed reaction to the ceremony.
Ted Stolze, Cerritos College Faculty Federation President and philosophy instructor, agreed that it is great to celebrate faculty but support the call for the board and administration to realize the importance of the reserves.
Vice President of Student Services, Stephen Johnson, said that with this event it was a cap stone to those who are servicing the students.
For Board member John Moore while it was recognizing the faculty for their hard work there was more.
“These are faculty members who affect the students’ lives.”
Students like Shelby Kanyr, dental hygiene major, who came out to show support Soderling said that it was great.
“It’s exciting because it means that the faculty care about the students.”
Lindsay Kandos, dental hygiene major, agreed and to have any faculty member recognized for their commitment was great.
In describing Soderling as an instructor she said, “She is an excellent teacher as is the entire faculty.”
