Honored Alumnus of the Year 2007

Dr. Larry Martinez and Khatchik H. “Katcho” Achadjian

The Cuesta College Foundation named two Honored Alumni for 2007, Katcho Achadjian and Dr. Larry Martinez.

Achadjian is the Fourth District Supervisor of the Board of Supervisors for San Luis Obispo County. He earned an associate’s degree from Cuesta College during his studies from 1971–1973. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly State University in 1976. Achadjian was nominated by James Brabeck, president and CEO of Farm Supply Company.

Katcho exemplifies the quality of education provided by Cuesta College and is a role model for all, Brabeck said. As an immigrant from Lebanon of Armenian descent, he enrolled at Cuesta College where he mastered the English language, along with his native Armenian, French and Arabic. He has constantly stated publicly and privately that Cuesta College provided him the foundation for his educational success in his new country, the United States.

Dr. Larry Martinez is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at California State University, Long Beach. Martinez earned his associate’s degree from Cuesta College in 1973 and his doctorate from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984. Martinez was nominated by Dr. Michael Frommlet, the 2001 Cuesta College Alumnus of the Year.

Cuesta College is a wonderful public resource, Martinez said. I had a fabulous experience, and I’ll always treasure it.

The annual Honored Alumni Award was established in 1989 to recognize the achievements of a former Cuesta College student who has made outstanding professional achievements, served the community or served Cuesta College