Campus Seeks Alumni to Honor at Annual Vision & Visionaries Gala

Each year, Cal State Fullerton honors a group of exceptional individuals during Vision & Visionaries in February. Created in 1994, the gala evening brings to the forefront, the vision, achievements and philanthropic efforts of Cal State Fullerton’s graduates.

The Distinguished Alumni Award, presented during Vision & Visionaries, is the highest honor that the university bestows on those who have gotten their degrees from this institution. It has been presented to Titans in business, science, education, communications and the arts.
           
Among previous honorees: Jeff Bacon (B.A. art ’80), partner and creative director, Cimarron/Bacon/O’Brien; Jack O’Connell (B.A. history ’73), state superintendent of public instruction; Sue Ellen Cooper (B.A. English ’68), founder, Red Hat Society; Susan E. George (M.A. counseling ’79), author; Robert B. Grant (B.A. business administration ’66), managing partner, Deloitte & Touch, LLP; Michele G. Ruiz (B.A. communications ’88), KNBC4 news anchor and reporter; and Linda Spilker (B.A. physics ’77), deputy project scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
           
Many community members who are campus supporters have also been honored as honorary alumni, including: H. William Bridgford, chairman, Bridgford Foods Corp.; Jerry Goodwin, owner, Goodwin Honda; and Jack Lindquist, former president, Disneyland.
           
Nominations are now being sought for the 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award. Submissions may be made to the Alumni Relations office may be made at any time during the academic year, but nominations for the 2007 awards closes on Friday, Sept. 15.

Recipients of the Award will be selected by a committee composed of members of the Alumni Association Executive Board of Directors; Pamela Hillman, vice president of university advancement; the Associated Students Inc. president or designee and Carlos Leija, executive director of alumni relations. President Milton A. Gordon approves all selections.

Criteria for the Distinguished Alumni Award are as follows:

1. Recipients are selected from those individuals who have received a degree (baccalaureate and/or graduate) or credential from Cal State Fullerton.  In exceptional cases, former students who are non-graduates will be considered based upon the individual's contribution while attending Cal State Fullerton and subsequent career achievements.
   
   
2. Recipients should be previously recognized for accomplishments in their profession (e.g. business, the arts, community service, government, and media) or for significant contributions benefiting their community, state, or nation.
   
   
3. Occasionally, exceptions will be made to recognize an alumnus/na for time and dedication to the University and who would not otherwise be eligible because of his/her career achievement.  This is not an annual award and will only be awarded in exceptional cases.
   
   
4. Recipients must be able to accept the award in person.
   
   

For more information about the awards and nomination, call Carlos Leija at 278-4733 or cleija@fullerton.edu.