Pima Community College Foundation and Alumni Association Annouce 40th Anniversary Gala Awards

Pima Community College Foundation and Alumni Association Announce 40th Anniversary Gala Awards

Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College (PCC) Foundation and Alumni Association will recognize local individuals, businesses, community organizations and alumni at the Pima Community College 40th Anniversary Gala. The event will take place on April 24, 2009 at the Westin La Paloma, 3800 East Sunrise Drive.

The PCC Foundation and Alumni Association will present awards to individuals and organizations that have played significant roles in building the College throughout the last 40 years.

The Founder Award,  presented to an individual who championed the vision of accessible education for Southern Arizona during the 1960s and worked to make PCC a reality, will be presented to James W. Cocke. He was a member of the Citizens Committee for the Community College in the 1960s and is an Emeritus Member of the PCC Foundation Board of Directors.  

The Innovator Award, presented to a business that influenced PCC’s development in an extraordinary way, will be presented to The Jim Click Automotive Team. The business is a long-time supporter of PCC’s automotive technology program, most recently establishing the JCAT Automotive Scholarship.

The Champion Award, presented to an organization that has shared its passion, experience or resources in support of PCC’s vision, will be presented to the League of Mexican American Women. The organization gave the first grant to PCC for scholarship support and continues to provide scholarships today.

In addition, four alumni will be the charter inductees into the PCC Alumni Hall of Fame. The PCC Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes alumni whose distinguished accomplishments in their industries and communities reflect positively on Pima Community College. The inductees will be:

• Georgia Cole Brousseau, a teacher, principal and one of the first members of PCC’s Board of Governors;
• Rene Diaz-Lefebvre, a distinguished educator who has researched and written texts on multiple intelligences;
• Nancy Turner, an award-winning local author of southwestern historical novels; and
• Richard Fimbres, National Vice President of LULAC, founder of the LULAC Youth Conference, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and a current member of PCC’s Board of Governors.

Funds raised by the 40th Anniversary Gala help students achieve their educational goals by supporting areas that are not funded by government sources and tuition, such as scholarships, student leadership opportunities, classroom equipment, technological advances and faculty development.

CONTACT:
A. Rachelle Howell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing
(520) 206-4850

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Founded in 1969, Pima Community College (PCC) serves more than 75,000 students annually and is the sixth largest community college in the United States. PCC offers degrees and certificates in more than 100 transfer and occupational programs on six conveniently located campuses and more than 180 teaching sites throughout Pima County. The College provides flexible course options, affordable tuition, and a wide array of support services. To learn more, visit www.pima.edu or call (520) 206-4500.