Honored for her service

Golden West College counselor Stephanie Dumont has been named one of the winners of the 2009 Hayward Award for Excellence in Education.

Dumont, a California native, has worked for the school for 10 years. The Laguna Beach resident earned her Master of Science in educational counseling at National University.

The Hayward Award is presented annually in four California regions by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. Dumont is being honored from Area D, which includes all community colleges in Orange and San Diego counties and the desert areas.

Dumont received a cash award of $1,250, and was honored earlier this month at a Community College Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento.

Established in 1985, the award was named for Gerald C. Hayward, California’s community college chancellor from 1980-85. The award honors community college faculty members who demonstrate the highest level of commitment to their students, college and profession. Recipients are nominated by their local peers and voted upon by representatives of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.

In addition to excellence in teaching, recipients must have a record of outstanding performance in professional activities, as well as a record of active participation on campus.

Dumont is recognized for her service to students, campus and community college activities statewide. She served as president of the Golden West College Academic Senate for two consecutive terms and represents the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges on various statewide committees.

A published author and presenter on counseling student athletes, Dumont is the recipient of the college’s Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society “Making a Difference in the Lives of Scholars” award.

She is an advocate for the underprivileged in her community, having served and dined with the homeless, and volunteered at the Los Angeles Mission and local shelters.

Reporter CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.