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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tom Uribes Nov. 4, 2002 (559) 278-5366 or 250-8459
Mehas Named Fresno State’s ‘Distinguished Alumnus’ Ten Outstanding Alumni To Be Honored As ‘Top Dogs’ At Gala Nov. 8 Including Astronaut Rick Husband Who Will Take A Fresno State Item Into Space On ColumbiaCalifornia State University, Fresno will honor 12 outstanding alumni at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala on Friday, Nov. 8. Among the recipients are Fresno County Office of Education Superintendent Dr. Peter Mehas and Air Force Col. Rick Husband, a NASA astronaut in Houston, Texas, who will command the space shuttle Columbia next year. At the Top Dog gala, set for 5:30 p.m. in the Satellite Student Union (2485 E. San Ramon Ave.), Mehas will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest honor given by the university’s Alumni Association. The Arthur Safstrom Service Award also will be presented to Thomas and Cynthia Downing of Fresno, who helped create the Downing Planetarium on campus. And the 2002 Outstanding Alumni Awards will be presented to 10 alumni — one from each of the academic school/colleges, as well as the Division of Student Affairs and the Athletics Department — who will be honored for making a difference in their community and in their profession. Tickets for the public event are available for $75 per person until Nov. 6. “Top Dog” alumni Husband, a 1990 graduate being honored by Fresno State’s College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, will be unable to attend Friday’s event because of his preparations for the NASA mission into space scheduled for January. But he sent a videotaped message for the gala, in which he announces his plans to carry an item from Fresno State with him into space. “My education at Fresno State has served me well, both as an Air Force pilot and as an astronaut,” Husband says in the videotape. “I do attribute my selection as an astronaut to my education at Fresno State. To show my appreciation, I plan on flying an item from the university on my upcoming space mission and I hope to return that item to the school after my flight.” In addition to Husband, the other Top Dog Outstanding Alumni are: Judge Edward Aparicio of Edinburgh, Texas; California Sen. Jim Costa of Fresno; University of Texas professor King Davis of Austin; Bakersfield farmer Carl Fanucchi; University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido of Austin; Fresno State professor Elizabeth S. Hansen; Washington Post reporter Manny Fernandez of Washington D.C.; Silicon Valley businessman Eric A. McAfee of Cupertino; and Dr. Kent Yamaguchi, a Fresno surgeon. Full bios of each awardee as well as the Husband videotape are available for viewing at www.FresnoStateNews.com. Mehas, a 1962 graduate of California State University, Fresno, was selected “because of his numerous accomplishments and his commitment to education on all levels,” said Jacquelyn Glasener, executive director of the Alumni Association. “Peter has been a supporter and advocate for education from his office in Fresno to national advisory committees,” Glasener said. “He truly is an example of Fresno State’s finest alumni.” The 63-year-old educator, who was elected to his current job as Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in June 1990, earned his bachelor’s degree from then-Fresno State College in 1962, his master’s degree from UCLA in 1967, and his doctorate in education from the University of Southern California in 1979. Mehas began his professional career as an instructor at Roosevelt High School in 1963. He taught at Edison High School and with the Clovis Unified School District. Mehas established and served as the legislative advocate in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., for the State Center Community College District, Fresno County, and Modoc County Offices of Education and a consortium of 36 school districts throughout Central California. He was appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian as his chief adviser on matters relating to all public education in the state, K-12, community colleges, the California State University and University of California systems, and private and independent schools and universities. He also was named director of the Governor’s Office of Education Planning and Policy Committee. President George H. Bush appointed Mehas to a 17-member advisory commission to implement his executive order on Latino education. Mehas serves on various boards and has won numerous awards including the USC School of Education Distinguished Lecturer and the 1998 California State University, Fresno School of Social Sciences Alumni Award of Excellence. He holds a lifetime California Standard Secondary Teaching Credential and General Elementary Credential as well as a lifetime School Service Credential in General Administration. He and his wife Demi have two daughters, Alethea and Andreanna and reside in Fresno. The Alumni Association has been honoring distinguished alumni since 1953 when Robert Greelis, Class of ’39, was the first honoree. In 1994, the association established the individual college/school outstanding alumni awards. Other recipients of the top alumni honor have included U.S. Secretary of Treasury Paul O'Neill; California Secretary of State Bill Jones; the late journalist H. Roger Tatarian, Houston Mayor Lee “Pat” Brown; the late Sen. Ken Maddy; the legendary coach and educator Cornelius A. “Dutch” Warmerdam; and former US ambassador and publisher Philip Sanchez. Dr. John D. Welty, president of Fresno State, said he is “proud to share in the success of many of our students who have moved on to accomplished careers as authors, politicians, artists, educators, business leaders, athletes, engineers, scientists and healthcare providers.” “This success reflects and inspires each individual who received his or her education at Fresno State,” Welty said. “As our noted alumni, they are our finest ambassadors, leaders and role models for our students and for our society at large.” Welty and Ken Campbell, president of the Fresno State Alumni Association, will present the awards along with the deans from each of the colleges and schools. Master of Ceremonies for this year’s gala will be the Hon. Robert Oliver, judge of the Fresno County Superior Court. He is a Fresno State graduate with the Class of 1966 and former recipient of the Alumni Award of Excellence. Tickets are $75 per person, $750 for a table of ten, $1,000 sponsorship (includes a table of ten and program recognition). For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Leticia Reyna, assistant director of alumni programs, at (559) 278-2586.
Distinguished Alumnus Award 2002
Top Dog Outstanding Alumni Award 2002 Carl Fanucchi ’64 -- Farmer Outstanding Alumnus, College of Agricultural Science and Technology
Manny Fernandez ’97 -- Reporter, The Washington Post Outstanding Alumnus, College of Arts and Humanities
Eric Armstrong McAfee ’86 -- Co-Founder, Cagan McAfee Capital Partners Outstanding Alumnus - Craig School of Business
Elizabeth S. Hansen ’52, ’68 -- Lecturer, Kremen School of Education and Human Development, California State University, Fresno; Outstanding Alumnus - Kremen School of Education and Human Development
Rick Douglas Husband ’90 -- Astronaut, NASA Outstanding Alumnus – College of Engineering and Computer Science (link to Fresno State's unique engineering program at Edwards Air Force Base).
King Davis ’64, ’66 -- Professor and Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy, University of Texas at Austin Outstanding Alumnus – College of Health and Human Services
Kent T. Yamaguchi, MD ’68 -- Chief, Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Outstanding Alumnus – College of Science and Mathematics
Senator Jim Costa ’74 -- California State Senate Outstanding Alumnus – College of Social Sciences
Augie Garrido ’61 -- Head Baseball Coach, University of Texas at Austin Outstanding Alumnus – Athletics
Edward Gabriel Aparicio ’84 -- Judge, 92nd District Court, Texas Outstanding Alumnus – Division of Student Affairs
ARTHUR SAFSTROM SERVICE AWARD Thomas H. Downing ’70 – Self-Employed Dentist (Fresno) Cynthia Downing ’81 – President/CEO, Professional Exchange Service Corp. (Fresno) ###
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