Around Town . . . with Robert Airoldi: Nominations now open for 2021 Gavilan Community Spirit Awards
Nominations will close Sept. 3 with the award ceremony held in November.
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
It’s that time of year for residents to select individuals and organizations that contributed to the community spirit of Gavilan College. Each year, three sets of awards are presented, for the communities of Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Benito County. In each community an individual, a business, and a non-profit organization are selected.
The Gavilan College Community Spirit Awards were created in 1999.
Last year’s winners were
Morgan Hill/San Martin:
Individual – Mike Beasley, Organization – Second Harvest Food Bank, Business – Rocca’s Market
Gilroy:
Individual – Lillian Silva, Organization – Leadership Gilroy Class of 2020, Business – First Street Togo’s
San Benito County:
Individual – Al Bonturi, Organization – Hollister Community Outreach (Linda and Patrick Lampe), Business – Pinnacle Farms
Next month, the board will finalize the awards calendar. Nominations will close Sept. 3 with the award ceremony held in November.
For more information, visit www.gavilan.edu/news/announcement/spirit-awards.php.
Photo courtesy Gavilan College
President/Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Rose, and retired history instructor Leah Halper join Pister Scholarship winner Naomi Gutierrez and her mother, Nancy Olivares.
Transferring to UCSC this fall, Hollister resident Naomi Gutierrez was awarded the Karl S. Pister scholarship. Named for former UCSC Chancellor Karl S. Pister, the scholarship is open to students from 13 Bay Area community colleges who overcame economic obstacles, demonstrated a commitment to helping others, and are eligible for financial aid. Recipients receive $10,000 in each of two years.
“Naomi’s career at Gavilan has been one of pushing herself to take on challenges,” said Dr. Kathleen Rose, Superintendent/President of Gavilan College. “She has devoted her time to the study of people and policy, and to the liberation of marginalized communities.”
Former instructor Leah Halper recommended her to apply for the scholarship.
“I don’t believe I have ever met a student who better qualifies for the Pister Scholarship and exemplifies the values underlying it,” said Halper.
Gutierrez attended San Benito High School as a freshman, switched to Sobrato High School her sophomore year, then returned to SBHS for her final two years of high school.
After a year at U.C. Riverside where she was twice diagnosed with major depressive disorder as a result of sexual abuse when she was a teen, she returned home and enrolled at Gavilan College.
Gutierrez will pursue a double major — sociology and history — at UCSC, then work toward her MA in environmental science at U.C. Berkeley.
“I want to be an immigration attorney,” she said. “Let’s address environmental racism, toxic waste sites in neighborhoods with the poor, and people of color.”
You’re a courageous young woman, Naomi. Best of luck!
Savannah Cambell will attend the University of Providence, Rhode Island and play on the volleyball team.
Photo courtesy Mt. Madonna School
Mount Madonna School senior Savannah Cambell signed a national letter of intent with Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Cambell, a 5-foot, 10-inch setter with quick hands and an eye for the game, will join the DIII Wildcats to play volleyball beginning this fall.
For several years, Cambell played for the Main Beach Volleyball Club in Aptos, and before that with Club Cruz and Summit Volleyball Club. She began her volleyball aspirations with Mount Madonna School in third grade.
“I am so excited to be playing volleyball at Johnson & Wales,” said Cambell. “It has been my dream to play in college and that dream came true.”
Good luck, Savannah.