 From left, De Anza alumnus Ramon Johnson, President Brian Murphy, KTVU Channel 2 investigative reporter and event emcee Robert Handa and De Anza Vice President of Student Services Robert Griffin were among the notables at the college’s 12th annual gala, held Nov. 5. |
Community supporters donated $70,000 at De Anza College’s recent 12th annual gala fund-raiser, “A Night of Magic.” Proceeds are earmarked for computers and other technology equipment for the new Student and Community Services Building and to fund projects such as peer advising and parent-student orientations.
De Anza President Brian Murphy presented the De Anza College Visionary Award for Extraordinary Public Service to former State Sen. John Vasconcellos, who retired in 2004 after four decades of public service that included extensive work on behalf of education.
Murphy honored De Anza graduate Sven Jones with the college’s Achievement Award. Jones is director of Services for Students with Disabilities at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Md. Jones benefited from services for students with learning disabilities when he attended De Anza.
The fund-raiser included a segment featuring De Anza Vice President of Student Services Robert Griffin in conversation with graduate Ramon Johnson, who described the significant personal challenges he overcame with the help of social services providers and the college’s student services professionals. Johnson graduated magna cum laude from De Anza and is now pursuing a degree at San Jose State University with the goal of becoming a community college instructor.
The “Open a Door to Student Success” portion of the event raised an immediate $4,000 after Johnson described the vital role De Anza faculty, staff and programs played in changing his life.
The Foothill-De Anza Foundation and the auxiliary De Anza Commission co-sponsored the event, which was co-chaired by community members Jim Walker, Judy Ott and Mary Smith.
De Anza College, one of the largest single-campus community colleges in the nation, has served area students for nearly 40 years. The school offers general education and vocational courses as well as interdisciplinary studies, community service opportunities, on-the-job-training, internships, collaborative programs with businesses and industries, and online and television classes to approximately 25,000 students per
quarter.
