Cuesta College Honors Benefactors and Volunteers for 2005

COUNCIL FOR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Benefactor of the Year Award for Region IX
Gene and Lois Miller
(See article on pg 6)

PRESIDENT’S AWARD
This award is given in recognition of the accomplishments of a community volunteer (or volunteers) who has contributed time and talent generously, working in partnership with Cuesta faculty or staff resulting in an achievement that might not have happened otherwise.

John and Berna Dallons (nominated by Cuesta College Foundation) Without the generosity of John and Berna, and without Berna’s leadership, hard work, persistence and positive outlook, the North County Campus may not have become a reality so quickly. In 1991, the Cuesta College Board of Trustees appointed Berna Dallons to serve on the college’s Blue Ribbon Site Selection Committee to consider sites for the future North County Campus. When prospects of a new campus dimmed due to a lack of state funding, Dallons led a coalition of supporters to raise money locally with private gift support. She organized the first major fundraiser in 1995, and she and her husband made the first major donation, $100,000, to the campaign.

The college identified a suitable site, but had no funds to purchase it. The Dallons bought the property and held it for the college interest-free until the college could raise the money through private gift support.

John and Berna Dallons together have donated more than $284,000 to Cuesta College in recent years.

JOHN SCHAUB STUDENT VOLUNTEER AWARD
(See article on pg 5)

MERLIN E. EISENBISE SERVICE IN THE
CLASSROOM AWARD
This award recognizes direct service in the classroom which extends our ability to help students. It is given in honor of the District’s first Superintendent/President, Dr. Merlin E. Eisenbise.

Penny Madden (nominated by John Knutson and Performing Arts) Penny Madden was the fundamental organizer for the Wine, Dine & Jazz event held at Castoro Cellars this year, which raised approximately $10,000 for the Chamber Singers and Vocé. Penny procured food and beverage donations from local merchants and offered to prepare all of the food herself at no charge. She helped organize students to make the salad and lasagna, and also to make floral arrangements for the tables (which were later sold for $10 each). She was also instrumental in procuring several donations for the auction conducted during the event.

Penny organized the entire set-up and clean-up and served as the kitchen and service manager. All of this was done in a careful and well-planned professional manner and resulted in a fun and profitable event for the Performing Arts Department.

BETTY NIELSEN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award is given in memory of College Trustee Betty Nielsen, considered the epitome of volunteerism. She served the community and the college unselfishly for many years as an exemplary volunteer in several capacities.

Dan and Alberta Deutsche (nominated by Bob Mariucci and the Athletic Department) Dan and Alberta came to our community approximately 5 years ago, and have provided the athletic department and the entire college with fresh new support and enthusiasm. They have both volunteered on the Cuesta College Athletic Booster Executive Board for the past three years. Dan is currently the Vice President of the Booster Club and Alberta is the Board’s Secretary.

Dan and Alberta are very active sports enthusiasts, and are among Cuesta’s greatest fans – attending men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball and softball games. They also volunteer at numerous Athletic events such as the annual Out-of-District Parent Student Athlete Registration Day. In the short time we have had both Dan and Alberta on “our team,” they have made an incredible impact and it is an honor to recognize them today with the prestigious Betty Nielsen Volunteer of the Year Award.

PHI DELTA KAPPA “LAY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR”
This award is given to a person(s) who has volunteered their time and given of their talent and resources so that the educational program that the students of our communities receive is richer and more exciting.

Rosemary Maino is a self-described “almost native” of San Luis Obispo where she attended local schools. She is a graduate of Scripps College in Claremont with a B.A. in Child Psychology. She and her husband Ted raised four children in San Luis Obispo before Ted’s appointment as United States Ambassador to Botswana from 1982 to 1985.

For nearly six decades, Rosemary has been a community leader, highly regarded and renowned for her quiet dedication to helping others. She chaired committees, boards, and organizations to help the schools wherever her children attended. She volunteered for the Children’s Home Society, served on the Grand Jury, was the 1957 president of the San Luis Obispo Federated Republican Women, and held several offices in the Monday Club to help raise funds for local causes. She also spent many years as a member of the Women’s Shelter Board of Directors.

Rosemary began serving as a Cuesta College volunteer in 1978. She joined the Foundation Board of Directors in September 1986 and served until December 2004. During that time, she served as Vice President for Membership from 1993 to 1999 and President from 1999 to 2002. She helped lead the Board in capital fund drives, fundraising for scholarships, and the annual fund drive to provide financial support for classroom equipment and student services. In 1991 Rosemary received Cuesta College’s Betty Nielsen Volunteer of the Year Award and was also named one of the Economic Opportunity Commission’s Volunteers of the Year. In 2000 she received the Cuesta College Foundation coveted J. Vard Loomis Award for Distinguished Board Service.

Rosemary has been an inspiration to us at Cuesta College because of her results-oriented leadership, her extraordinary ability to effect change, and her unwavering commitment to education.