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April 4, 2003 ::No.187
Vision & Visionaries
Pays Tribute to Outstanding Alumni
They are among the tops in their fields and
on Saturday, April 12, seven Cal State Fullerton alumni, including
an honorary alumnus, will be celebrated for their achievements during
the 2003 Vision & Visionaries gala at the Grand Californian
Hotel in Anaheim. The 10th annual event also spotlights
students from the Theatre and Dance Department who will perform
musical tributes to the guests of honor. The honorees are:
| Vance R. Ablott (B.A. biological
science ’73) of Alexandria, Va., president and CEO of
the Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Under Ablott’s
leadership, the Alexandria-based Challenger Center has grown
to 50 learning centers in the United States, Canada and Great
Britain. A former project director for Tokyo Disneyland, NASA’s
Space Center Houston and the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum,
Ablott strives to foster in students a long-term interest in
math, science and technology. |
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| Wayne L. “Buz” Knyal
of Los Angeles, entrepreneur and former business administration
major. Knyal created his current company, Wireless Capital Partners,
in 2001 and recently formed a joint venture with AT&T Wireless.
His accomplishments include leading the advertising team at
Bank of America to introduce the Versateller ATM machine and
the founding of Franchise Mortgage Acceptance Co., where he
became the first to achieve debt securitization in the franchising
industry. |
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| Robert “Bobby” McDonald
(B.S. physical education ’75) of Anaheim, businessman.
McDonald is president and executive director of the Black Chamber
of Commerce of Orange County, where he is credited with expanding
the chamber’s membership, due to what members say is his
creativity and innovation. The organization has partnered consistently
with Orange County minority business associations, local chambers
and legislators to provide support for the county’s many
small-business owners. He also developed the chamber’s
educational outreach programs, including the Bricks and Bridges
program and the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program with
Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine. He received the Human
Relations Leadership Award from the Orange County Human Relations
Commission in 1999, and in 2000, was named the Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. Millennial Man of the Year. |
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| Christopher B. Mears (B.A. theatre
arts ’78) of Irvine, attorney. Mears specializes in plaintiff’s
injury litigation, including medical malpractice, legal malpractice,
government and products liability. His work on behalf of the
homeless has resulted in such accolades as the State Bar of
California President’s Pro Bono Service Award, Community
Legal Services Award from the Legal Aid Society of Orange County
and the Poverty Law Center’s Advocates Award. Mears is
a member of the Irvine City Council and served a mayor pro tem
during his first year on the council. He currently is leading
the development of the Great Park at El Toro, which is home
to Cal State Fullerton’s El Toro Campus. |
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| Michele G. Ruiz (B.A. communications
’88), newscaster. Ruiz co-anchors the 5:30 p.m. weekday
broadcast of the Channel 4 News with Chuck Henry on KNBC-TV.
She is a local Emmy Award- and Golden Mike Award-winner. In
addition, she has been recognized by the city of Los Angeles
and Comision Feminil de Los Angeles as a Latina Woman of Achievement,
and by MOSTE (Motivating Our Students Through Education) for
her work as a longtime mentor to young women. Ruiz serves on
the board of Para Los Niños and is a member of Investigative
Reporters and Editors Inc., the Radio Television News Directors
Association and National Association of Hispanic Journalists. |
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| Philip R. Schimmel (B.A. business
administration ’76) of Manhattan Beach, managing partner
of KPMG Los Angeles. A 26-year veteran with KPMG, Schimmel’s
leadership extends to initial public offerings, mergers and
acquisitions, technical advice on financial reporting, restructuring,
debt financing and due diligence. He is an assurance partner
in KPMG’s information,communications and entertainment
practice. Schimmel is global lead partner for Apple Computer
and lead partner for Tenet Healthcare Corp. Additionally, he
is a Security Exchange Commission reviewing partner for such
companies as Western Digital, Emulex, Beckman Coulter, Qlogic
and Allergan. Currently, he is a board member of Junior Achievement
for Southern California and a member of the Los Angeles Sports
Council. |
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| James D. “Jim” Young
of Fullerton, emeritus professor of theatre. Honorary alumnus
Young founded the Department of Theatre — later becoming
the Department of Theatre and Dance — in 1960 and has
witnessed its growth into a nationally acclaimed program. Subsequently,
he served as associate dean for the School of Letters, Arts
and Sciences and associate vice president for academic programs.
He continued teaching part time after being granted emeritus
status in 1986, and in a further commitment to Cal State Fullerton,
co-founded and co-chaired the campuswide “It’s Our
University” faculty/staff/emeriti campaign, created to
raise much-needed funds for CSUF programs, scholarships and
departments. To date, the 11-year-old program that Young continues
to co-chair, has generated $1.3 million in gifts. |
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Media Contacts:
Patricia Boggs, executive director of alumni relations,
657-278-4732 or pboggs@fullerton.edu
Gail Matsunaga, Public Affairs, 657-278-4851 or gmatsunaga@fullerton.edu |
For more information, visit the Vision
& Visionaries website.
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