Students Earn All-California Honors
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
UKIAH -- Two Mendocino College students are among the 67 individuals selected for the 2010 All-California Community College Academic Team, a recognition program administered by Phi Theta Kappa. Art major Dustin Crown and business administration major Heather Gardner were named to the All-California Academic Third Team. They received medallions of honor and certificates recognizing their accomplishments.
Selection to the All-California teams was based on grades, leadership, and community service. Crown and Gardner received scores from Phi Theta Kappa judges at the national level that qualified them for the honor at the state level. The 67 students chosen for the All-California first, second, and third teams represent 36 California community colleges and some of the best of the 2.9 million students enrolled in all 112 California community colleges, according to information released by Phi Theta Kappa. The students were acknowledged at a special awards luncheon in Sacramento.
Gardner has also been selected as the featured student speaker for the 2010 Mendocino College commencement. The public is invited to the graduation ceremony May 27 at 6 p.m. in the College gymnasium.
“We are very proud of Dustin and Heather for their achievements,” said Mendocino College Superintendent/President Kathryn G. Lehner. “They are excellent students with ambitious goals. They are Mendocino College Foundation scholarship recipients, and they have clearly earned these state level honors. We wish them well in their pursuit of degrees beyond Mendocino College.”
Crown, a 24-year-old Ukiah resident, will transfer to San Francisco State University; and Gardner, 32, to the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the fall to continue their education.
Crown plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s in fine arts, focusing on sculptural media. “My career goals are aimed at teaching art between two-dimensional and three-dimensional fields,” says the Ukiah High School graduate. “I would love to see myself grow talented enough to participate in the making of an animation movie or series.”
Garnering a 3.7 grade point average as a student at Mendocino College, Crown belongs to three clubs -- Phi Theta Kappa, Ceramics Club, and the Artists Club. He also works for the College’s horticulture nursery.
As a full-time student with a 3.761 grade point average, Gardner works part-time as an administrative assistant at the College’s Child Development Center and as a tutor. Her club affiliations include MESA and the Parent’s Club, in addition to Phi Theta Kappa.
Gardner said she was humbled by the honor of being chosen for the All-California Academic Team.”It was truly a surprise to be nominated and an honor to go to Sacramento and be given the award. I had a great time and met some really wonderful and talented people from other community colleges; just an overall great experience!”she said.
Gardner currently resides in Ukiah with her husband Tyler and their 5-year-old son. She said she is looking forward to living in Santa Barbara, where all three will attend school -- her son will begin kindergarten in the fall.
“Mendocino College was well-represented on the All-California Academic Teams,” said Lehner. “I was happy to accompany the students to the luncheon and see them receive their awards.”
For more information about activities and classes at Mendocino College, visit the College website at www.mendocino.edu. Information about the Mendocino College Foundation may be found on its website, http://foundation.mendocino.edu.
