Oxnard College Presents ‘Big Five’ Awards

* Outstanding students, faculty and staff members were honored during the recent 22nd annual Oxnard College awards ceremony.

“Big Five” awards were presented to staff members and students selected by their peers.

Mark Dever Award for excellence in teaching by a full-time instructor--Stephen Hall of Port Hueneme, a math instructor.

Wallace Stevens Award for excellence in teaching by a part-time instructor--Hugo Viveros of Oxnard, a math instructor.

William Rainey Harper Award recognizing the outstanding nonteaching academic employee--Jose Vega of Oxnard, a counselor for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services.

John Milton Award for excellence in service by a classified employee--Lucy Paez of Santa Paula, a student services assistant.

Frank Gilbreth Award for excellence by a student--Velia Soto of Oxnard. Soto was recently elected student trustee to the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees.

Rio School District’s CHISPA Awards

* Rio School District announced the winners of its CHISPA community awards:

Dan Pinedo of Rio Lindo School and Clara Ramos of Rio Plaza School for co-chairing the school bond committee.

Cynthia Gomez, El Rio School, for serving as PTA president and fund-raising support.

Julie and Jesus Mendoza, Rio Real School, for helping to expand sports programs.

Michael Guerrero, Rio del Valle Junior High School, for his commitment to coaching boys basketball.

Roy Swickard received the Community/District Employee Award for his “leadership and dedication” for spearheading the district’s Christmas dinner program.

Nadine DeMoss, Art Hernandez and Mary Anne McCabe received a CHISPA Community Award for their volunteer support in aiding the district’s bond election effort.

Chispa is a Spanish word for “spark.” District Supt. Yolanda Benitez created the awards to recognize and honor community members for “sparking the lives of children in the district.”

CLU Salutes Professor of Religion

* Joseph Everson, professor of religion at Cal Lutheran University, received the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Everson joined CLU’s religion faculty in 1990. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and serves on the advisory board for the National Workshop of Christian and Jewish Relations.

The award was created by CLU President Luther Luedtke to recognize teachers “who are held in high esteem by their peers, students and the university community.”

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Awards and Honors is compiled by Rodney Bosch. Please address items to Awards and Honors, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.