Blue Devil Notebook: Date set for State of the College Luncheon

Merced College is inviting the community to its third annual State of the College Luncheon on April 17.

The event, which will be catered this year by master chef Melissa Rasmussen, will feature a “report to the community” from Superintendent/President Ron Taylor.

“I’m grateful to the Merced College Foundation for hosting this event,” Taylor said. “It’s an opportunity for me to provide details on the health and well being of Merced College to the local community.”

The event also will feature the presentation of the President’s Medallion Award to significant college benefactors. This year, the award will be given to local philanthropists Bill and Dorothy Bizzini. “The Bizzinis are very deserving of this recognition,” said Joe Doyland, Merced College Foundation board president. “They have set a very high standard of community involvement and service to others. Their many charitable contributions over the years, not just to Merced College, but to many other organizations, are admirable and can’t be overstated.”

Foundation Executive Director Robin Shepard said the Bizzinis exemplify the spirit as well as the heart of philanthropy. “They have committed both their time and treasure over many years to causes dear to them, both locally and internationally,” he said. “Bill and Dorothy Bizzini have, in their own humble and quiet manner, made an extraordinary impact on everyone with whom they’ve come in contact, and we are proud to honor them during this event.”

Previous President’s Medallion recipients are Don and Betty Stewart, and Dr. Hanimireddy Lakireddy.

The State of the College Luncheon will be held at the Bill and Dorothy Bizzini Interdisciplinary Academic Center. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Individual tickets are $50 and can be purchased from the Merced College Foundation by calling (209) 381-6470 or online at www.mercedcollegefoundation.org. Table and corporate sponsorships are also available.

Skateboard racks

Thanks to the President’s Circle, a nonprofit group benefiting Merced College, skateboard racks, which operate similar to bike racks, have been installed on campus. With many students arriving on campus on their skateboards, it has proven difficult to keep them out of the way in classrooms and in the library. Reference librarian Dee Near approached the President’s Circle for funding to solve the problem.

“Skateboards are not permitted to be ridden on campus,” she said. “The challenge has been that many students use their skateboards to get to the campus, and they must carry their board from class to class. Skateboard racks provide a safe place for students to secure their board while on campus.”

The problem appears solved thanks to the generosity of the President’s Circle. The new skateboard racks are at the library and Student Union Building.

New campus police leader

Merced College recently bid farewell to sheriff’s Sgt. Frank Swiggart, who returned to the Merced County Sheriff’s Department after spending four years leading the college’s Police Department. The college welcomed Deputy Sheriff Vince Gallagher, who assumed command of the college’s Police Department on Jan. 26. He leads a team of three sworn officers and 14 security officers. A graduate of Le Grand High School, Gallagher was first sworn in as a county deputy sheriff on April 29, 1991.

This story was originally published February 25, 2015 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Blue Devil Notebook: Date set for State of the College Luncheon."