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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 12/09/2008 10:50 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 12/09/2008 10:50 AM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
Columbia College Foundation Names New Board Members
Columbia, CA.....The Columbia College Foundation named four new members to their board of directors during the November 13 meeting. Rosetta Bannwarth, Dr. Louise Goicoechea, Glenn Roberts and Stephanie Suess have joined the college organization, which affirms the institution’s educational efforts by soliciting community support through financial and in-kind donations.....
“We are very pleased to welcome the newest members to our board,” said Randy Selesia, foundation president. “They have the honesty, integrity and dedication that make them wonderful choices for our organization.”
Rosetta Bannwarth and her husband, Rob are the owners of Banny’s Café and Wine Bar, which has been a popular downtown Sonora restaurant for the past 20 years. She is a Hayward native – specifically the Hayward/Castro Valley area – and attended Ohlone, Chabot and Columbia Colleges.
“By joining the foundation, I hope that I can help the college in meeting the needs of our community,” said Bannwarth. “I especially want to assist the younger generation in getting an education and achieving successful careers.”
Dr. Louise Goicoechea, who was born and raised in Sonora, attended local schools and went on to Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont where she completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration, and a degree in business education. Her early occupational experiences were as an educator in secondary schools, the California Department of Rehabilitation, and Department of Defense in Japan.
For over three decades, Dr. Goicoechea was affiliated with Shasta Community College in Redding. She was as an instructor and prior to her retirement in 2000, served as an associate dean and director of marketing and public relations for 14 years. While at Shasta, she also received a doctorate in education from Arizona State University.
“It’s an honor to be chosen for a position on the board,” said Dr. Goicoechea. “Based on my background in higher education, my vision for the Columbia College Foundation is to foster and build more community involvement with the college.”
Glenn Roberts has resided in Tuolumne County for 29 years. He has been a member of the Sonora Police Department for 27 years, the last 14 as a sergeant. A graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute through CSU Long Beach, he started the Sonora Police Explorer Post 364 Cadet Program in 1994 and in the same year, founded the T.A.A.C. (Tuolumne Agency Against Crime and Gang Violence) Unit. He has also taught ROP law enforcement classes at Summerville High School.
According to Roberts, “I joined the college foundation board to give back to our community for all the generosity that has been extended to me in the past. My hope is to help establish a set of monetary goals that will increase every year to assist in supporting the college and students in a greater capacity.”
Stephanie Suess, who will also chair the foundation’s fundraising committee, has been an active board member for a number of local organizations, including Sierra Repertory Theatre, Sierra Foothills Residential Care (SFRC), Omega Nu, Sonora Parent Nursery School, and Support Sonora School/PTSO for Sonora Elementary. She co-chaired the Children’s Park Project in 1999, which created the Heaven for Kids Park through the combined efforts of volunteers and donations of money, materials and tools.
Suess was named Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year in 2000 and was a member of Leadership Tuolumne County in 1997. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in soil science, she also completed studies in sedimentary petrology at UC Santa Barbara.
Professionally, she was previously a land use planner for Tuolumne County, an environmental monitor for the Sonora Mining Corporation, and a city planner for the City of Merced.
“I believe in expanding the college’s outreach to area residents. This includes elementary and high schools too. Education, in general, is a great connecting point for bringing together so many different individuals, businesses and organizations for collaborations, partnerships, job opportunities, and other resource sharing activities that benefit everyone,” said Suess.
Dr. Joan Smith, Columbia College president said, “I am very pleased to have these four individuals who are active members of our community, working on behalf of the foundation. We look forward to their ideas, leadership and participation in the years ahead.”
The Columbia College Foundation seeks financial donations and other services to support the educational efforts of the college. In turn, these dollars are used for well-deserved student scholarships and for purchasing essential program materials and equipment that otherwise would not be possible. The foundation assures that the college can maximize its efforts in providing quality academic, vocational and enrichment opportunities. For more information on the Columbia College Foundation, call 588-5115.
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