The Contra Costa College Foundation will be adding a new crop of names to its Hall of Fame on Nov. 14.
The CCC Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding community supporters, exemplary former employees and students whose successes in life are at least in part attributable to CCC.
The Hall of Fame also helps raise funds for college programs.
To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, a nominee has to meet a certain number of criteria.
“The kind of people the Hall of Fame recognizes are community supporters, individuals and organizations,” Senior Foundation Director Linda Cherry said.
Former employees who have been off payroll for more than five years can also be nominated.
Cherry said that successful former students who contribute some of their success to Contra Costa College are eligible as well.
“This is the fifth year of the Hall of Fame,” Cherry said. “It was created to recognize certain kinds of special folks that have contributed to the college in a special way.”
Two of this year’s honorees already have their names permanently attached to the college.
Retired California assembly member John Knox and his wife Jean, for whom the John and Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts is named, will be honored this year.
They were both largely responsible for the creation of the college’s performing arts center, and Jean Knox taught English at CCC for more than 20 years.
Two other former professors will also be honored this year.
George Coles, former counselor and professor of psychology and anthropology, and former business professor Doug Sabiston, will be inducted.
Academic Senate President Richard Akers and art department Chairman John Diestler nominated Sabiston.
“We nominated Doug because he is the creator and father of the Academic Senate,” Dr. Akers said. “He still attends state and regional senates and speaks on behalf of faculty.”
The Hall of Fame also gives CCC students something to aspire to, like former business major Alfonse Upshaw who will be inducted this year.
Even after Upshaw transferred from CCC to UC Berkeley, he still returned weekly to tutor and mentor other business students.
Upshaw’s example may help set the bar for other students, chemical engineering major Brooke Locklin said.
“When I finally do something groundbreaking in the field of chemistry, I can contribute some of my experience to the chemistry labs here at the college and someone may nominate me for the Hall of Fame,” Locklin said.
Tickets to this year’s ceremony can be purchased through the Foundation for $100 with all proceeds going to the Foundation.
Contact Lamar James at ljames.advocate@gmail.com.
Hall of Fame breaks ground
Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
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