Opening Doors: 2007 President's Dinner Celebrates Campus Supporters and Scholarships

Interim President Boice Bowman will welcome the CSU Dominguez Hills community to the 2007 President’s Dinner to Benefit Scholarships on Friday, April 27, beginning at 6 p.m. The event will be held for the first time in its eight year history in the university’s Loker Student Union Ballroom, which recently was expanded as part of larger renovations to the student union. The evening’s theme, “Opening Doors,” will be celebrated with special guests who are being honored by the university.

The 2007 Katherine B. Loker Friend of Education Award will be presented that evening to Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Calif.), for her support of the campus throughout her career representing the Carson area. The award is named for the longtime friend of CSUDH, who along with her late husband, Donald P. Loker, helped to facilitate the building of the original student union, and whose recent gift of $4 million was instrumental in the expansion project.

In 2006, the congresswoman secured a $444,000 appropriation to help establish an Institute of Entrepreneurship, Small Business Development and Global Logistics, in the university’s College of Business Administration and Public Policy. The institute
focuses on developing entrepreneurs, with a special emphasis on minority and female entrepreneurs, small business development in economically disadvantaged areas and in the logistics, transportation and supply chain management industry. Working with a bipartisan coalition of members in both the House and Senate, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald helped secure $575,000 in 2004 for the expansion of the CSUDH Orthotics and Prosthetics programs, allowing the university to expand the number of trained professionals needed to satisfy the needs of the nation’s disabled.

Northrop Grumman Corporation, the recipient of this year’s Corporate Partner of Education Award, is being recognized for its partnership with the Department of Computer Science in the College of Natural and Behavioral Science. Along with providing instructors from the industry and avenues of employment to CSUDH graduates, the $30 billion global defense and technology company has also lent its support to the Office of Student Development, augmenting the campus’s career counseling and other services.

Annually, the Dominguez Hills awards scholarships to high achieving and deserving students. The premiere scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship, is a full-fee award to graduating high school students that can be renewed throughout their undergraduate education. The scholarship is also awarded to community college transfer students and can be renewed for one additional year. Through this event, President Bowman hopes to increase the number of scholars receiving this prestigious award as well as other scholarships. Several CSUDH scholars will be featured throughout the evening to focus attention on the variety of scholarships opportunities available to students, including the McNair Scholars Program, Athletic Scholarships, the Dominguez Brand Scholarship, and the Honors Scholarships. For stories on the students, click here.

The mistress of ceremonies for the evening is CSUDH alumna Janine Haydel (Class of ’82, B.A., Business Administration). As a deejay on KJLH-FM, Haydel has interviewed entertainment industry giants, political and religious leaders, community activists and prominent authors. Currently, she is featured on the “Music & Mysteries” segment with Lon McQ.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a silent auction and cocktail reception. Dinner will begin at 7 p.m., with a brief program beginning at 8 p.m.

The first President’s Dinner to Benefit Scholarships was held in 1999 and hosted by former CSUDH President James E. Lyons, Sr. (1999-2007). Lyons, who is now serving as the secretary of higher education for the state of Maryland, has established an endowed scholarship with his wife, The Jocelyn and James E. Lyons Endowed Scholarship. Dr. and Mrs. Lyons are scheduled to attend the event.

Annually, CSUDH awards numerous scholarships to high-achieving and deserving students. The premier scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship, is a full-fee award to graduating high school students, which can be renewed throughout their undergraduate education. The scholarship is also awarded to community college transfer students and can be renewed for one additional year.

For more information on the President’s Dinner, click here, or contact the Office of Development at (310) 243-2182.

- Joanie Harmon-Whetmore