BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

OCC art history professor wins award

Irini Vallera-Rickerson, an art history professor at Orange Coast College, has won the 2007 Hayward Award for Excellence in Education.

The award, which honors outstanding teachers in four community college regions of the state, was established in 1985 and named after former state community college Chancellor Gerald C. Hayward.

Vallera-Rickerson, an OCC faculty member for 28 years, will be honored at a ceremony in Sacramento on March 5. She will also receive a cash award of $1,250.

Vallera-Rickerson, a native of Greece, was Orange County’s community college teacher of the year in 1994-95. In addition to serving as director of OCC’s art gallery, she has led forums on campus on racism, AIDS and other social issues.

Volunteers sought for homeless survey

The Point-In-Time Orange County homeless count and survey, set to take place Thursday and Friday, is still seeking volunteers to help count the county’s homeless population.

The project helps guarantee the receipt of more than $10 million in federal funding to maintain local homeless services, such as shelters and soup kitchens.

Each volunteer must attend a training session before the count, with the final sessions taking place through Wednesday at the OC Partnership office, 139 S. Olive St., Orange.

Sessions are held weekdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Volunteers will be instructed in interview and safety procedures.

For more information, go to www.pointintimeoc.org.