Front & Center Encore

Former Cal State Fullerton President Milton A.Gordon received the Orange County Titan Award Feb. 25 at the university’s annual Front & Center event, which headlined rock sensation Heart.

Caption: Heart sisters Ann, above, and Nancy Wilson, headlined Front & Center. Photos: Karen Tapia

Gordon was feted with a tribute video, and Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell presented him and his wife, Margaret Faulwell Gordon, with the award — a crystal elephant, honoring Gordon’s educational leadership in the community and commitment to advancing Cal State Fullerton as its president for more than two decades.

More than 7,000 people attended the event, which aims to broaden the university’s visibility and influence in Orange County and Southern California, cultivate prospective supporters for the university, and provide funds for academic enrichment and student scholarships.

CSUF alumnus Dashaun Young, best known for his role as Simba in the Broadway musical “The Lion King,” served as master of ceremonies. Joining him on stage for the opening act were theatre and dance students.

Heart’s lead singers and songwriters, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, performed some of their best known songs from their 10 platinum albums since the mid ’70s. Their hits incuded such chart-topping numbers as “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” “Dreamboat Annie,” “Magic Man,” “Straight On” and “These Dreams.” Individually, the four-time Grammy nominees also wrote and recorded songs for popular films, including “Almost Paradise” for “Footloose” and “Surrender to Me” from “Tequila Sunrise,” along with the scores for “Jerry McGuire” and “Almost Famous.”

Caption: Cal State Fullerton students performed as the opening act for Heart. Photo: Karen Tapia Download Photo

March 1, 2012