This year’s recipient of the Betty Nielsen Volunteer of the Year Award is Roxanne Carr, President of The Mortgage House. She was nominated by the Cuesta College Foundation. Roxanne and her husband – local architect Rod Levin – have been generous donors and supporters of Cuesta College for many years. Last year, Roxanne was tapped to serve as Chair of the 40th Anniversary Annual Fund Campaign to raise $150,000 to finance much-needed instructional equipment for the college. She wanted to help “as much as she could” she said, and pledged $25 per loan completed by The Mortgage House. In just one year, this pledge reached nearly $30,000 in donations.
As chair of the Annual Fund Campaign, Roxanne has cheerfully accepted many service club engagements, telling her heartfelt story about why we should all support Cuesta College. She is a superb spokesperson who says, “The college stands out as a leader in our community, always there to provide a first-rate education to anyone who needs it or wants it, often when they are at a serious threshold in their life. Cuesta’s superior staff and instructors, and its outstanding curriculum provide a treasure for all of us.”
Roxanne is on the Board of Directors of Mission Community Bank, the Home Builders Association, and the UCSB Economic Forecast Project for SLO County. She is a great supporter of the arts and is a member of the Symphony Guild, and is a Pacific Repertory Opera and Mozart Festival supporter. Roxanne also supports the women’s shelter and the Prado homeless shelter because she believes strongly in giving back to her community.
Since 1995, Roxanne has served as the Division President of the Mortgage House, a mortgage-banking firm she helped establish, where she continues to fight for expanding home ownership opportunities for her clients. Roxanne is well recognized and respected for her dedication to helping others. She has been honored as the Business Woman of the Year by The Tribune in 1994, and was a nominee for Women of Distinction at Cuesta College in 1995.
This award is given in memory of former College Trustee Betty Nielsen, who served the college unselfishly for many years as an exemplary volunteer in several capacities.
This year’s recipients of the Superintendent/President’s Award are Jerry and Sandy Boxer, who were nominated by the Cuesta College Foundation and the Executive Dean of the North County Campus.
Sandy and Jerry were instrumental in The Campaign for Cuesta, which raised funds to establish the North County Campus. Later they helped with Building on Success to raise money for two more buildings. Sandy currently chairs the North County Ambassadors, a group of about 20 supporters who meet on an as-needed basis to organize parade entries, raise funds for needed programs and services, organize the “meeter-greeter green apron brigade” during the opening days of each semester, staff the reception for the annual open house, and assist with the selection of the North County Campus Stellar Grad Award.
The Boxer home was the North County Campus “headquarters” during the two-year campaign to raise $2 million. Meetings were held there with State Senator Jack O’Connell, and representatives of the California Community College Board of Governors. Now the home is used for Jerry’s famous barbecues to thank, for example, the organizing team for “Expanding Your Horizons” and for meetings with North County campaigns and for the Ambassadors group.
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Sandy has served with distinction as a member of the Foundation Board of Directors since 1996, serving on the development, executive, special events, and budget request committees. As Foundation Ambassador to the College’s Science and Math Faculty, Sandy was instrumental in the creation and funding of the College’s Conference for middle school girls, “Expanding Your Horizons.” The volunteer efforts of both of these dedicated individuals would be more than enough, and has resulted in a new campus and new programs at both campuses. Their financial contributions have also made a difference for Friends of the Library, sending Cuesta’s music students to the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, supporting several memorial scholarships, and always, generous annual donations to the Annual Fund and to the North County Campus.
The President’s Award is given in recognition of the accomplishments of a community volunteer 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.
This year’s recipient of the John Schaub Student Volunteer Award is Roger Rich. He was nominated by Nancy Shearer, a faculty member in the Languages and Communications Division. Because he is bilingual, Roger was asked to work with a group of Spanish I students (some of whom are reentry students) on their conversational skills. With no compensation or academic credit, Roger worked one day each week for an entire semester. The students loved working with Roger and his contribution to their education was invaluable. Currently, Roger is continuing his volunteer service to Cuesta as one of the tutors in the Tutoring Center.
The award is given to a student whose community volunteer work best exemplifies the high standards established by the College’s first dean of students, whose trailblazing work in creating programs for student success has helped thousands of students achieve their goals.
This year’s recipient of the Merlin Eisenbise Service in the Classroom Award is Robbie Fraser who was nominated by Athletic Director Bob Mariucci and members of the Athletic Department. Robbie runs the masters water polo program through the Cuesta recreation program, and has supported the aquatic programs at Cuesta for more than 10 years. He runs and lifts with the athletes three times a week, and is a volunteer coach but more like a big brother to both male and female athletes. He plays in the Tues/Thurs morning water polo class, runs the masters polo at night, is a great mentor to our aquatic athletes and plays in masters polo tournaments all over the world.
In addition, he and his masters polo players cook lunch for the Cuesta swim invitational fundraiser and provide lunch for the officials and student help at the meet. Robbie is the owner of Morro Bay RV and owns a number of business and property in Morro Bay. His support is very important to the success of the program.
This award is given in honor of the District’s
first Superintendent/President,
Dr. Merlin Eisenbise. It recognizes direct service in the classroom –
extending our ability to help students. As the founding President, Dr.
Eisenbise assured the future excellence of Cuesta College through his
leadership and dedication to organize the best possible educational experience
for students. Classroom support by dedicated community volunteers was a
hallmark in Cuesta’s early days as it is today.
This year’s recipients of the Phi Delta Kappa “Lay Citizen of the Year” Award are Steve Goschke and Pat Mullen, who were nominated by the Cuesta College Foundation. Steve and Pat are Duke Energy leaders who also are active, participating members of Business Partners, working together with other local business executives in partnership to improve the local economy.
Steve and Pat have leveraged their ability to help others by building relationships with Cuesta College and giving generous support to educational programs and services. Under their leadership, Duke Energy provided a grant to the Cuesta College Marine Science program to upgrade labs, allowing the college to continue with first-class, first-rate marine biology programs for the community. Duke Energy also took the lead and became the primary sponsor for the County’s first ever Expanding Your Horizons conference, a program to encourage local middle school girls to continue their studies in math and science. Duke Energy also supported the college’s electronics technology program with a gift to purchase new equipment.
This award is given to a person who has volunteered time, talent, and resources so that the educational program received by the students of our communities is richer and more exciting.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
COMMISSION (EOC) AWARDS (4 categories)
Volunteer of the Year – This year’s nominees for the EOC award are Stephanie Ponti and Janet LaRue, who have each given generously with countless hours logged for the nursing department’s phlebotomy program. They volunteer in the classroom least twice a year to teach and demonstrate in the classroom, with valuable and experienced leadership for excellence in the nursing curriculum.
This award is given in recognition of significant efforts of time, labor, and dedication for those in need.
Private Business of the Year –This year’s nominee to EOC is PG&E, whose generosity has impacted the lives of countless students at Cuesta College. College conferences like Expanding Your Horizons—a program for local middle school girls to retain a lifelong interest in math and science—was made possible through donations like the leadership gift from PG&E. The newly established viticulture program received start-up funds from PG&E to support workers in vineyard management, pruning, irrigation and fertilization.
This award is given in recognition of business generosity and dedication to assisting the disadvantaged.
Service Club/Organization of the Year –This year’s Cuesta nominee to EOC is Judy Miller and the Alzheimer’s Association. Judy is a tireless volunteer and advocate for the County’s elderly citizens. The local Alzheimer’s Association coordinates a twice-yearly donation of $500 to a student who is interested in continuing his/her education gerontology.
This award is given in recognition of the high level of concern with contributions to human services.
Board Member of the Year –This year’s nominee to EOC is Nella Girolo, known throughout the county for her mezzo-soprano voice, her first-class musical theater productions at Cuesta College, her joyous and dazzling smile, and her absolutely boundless energy. Nella has served the college since 1972 as a member of the faculty, and is currently the chair of its Performing Arts Division.
This award is
given in recognition of the hard work and commitment to the goals of the
organization served.