Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees
November 30, 2007CONTACT:
Kathy Miller, 661/654-2456, kmiller26@csub.edu or
Michele Newel, 661/654-2720, mnewell1@csub.edu
CSUB will induct its 2008 class of accomplished alumni into the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame at a special awards ceremony on Saturday, March 8, at Seven Oaks Country Club, 2000 Grand Lakes Ave. This second annual event will honor three outstanding alumni.
"The Hall of Fame event recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions in their chosen field of endeavor or in their community, and whose accomplishments and careers have brought honor and distinction to the university," said Nancy Chaffin, CSUB alumna and chair of the Hall of Fame committee. "The 2008 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame class members serve as examples of graduates who have not only made a significant and lasting impact in their professions, but more importantly they have substantially improved the condition of their communities for generations to come. We invite the community to join us in celebrating these distinguished alumni."
A committee of university representatives and Alumni Board members selected the inductees. Nominations were obtained from campus deans, the Alumni Board, the president's office and the president's cabinet. "The 2008 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame class compares well to any university Hall of Fame inductees nationally. Our community can be proud of this fact," Chaffin said.
This year's three inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame are:
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Cesar Aristeiguieta – Dr. Aristeiguieta earned his bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from CSUB in 1992. He is a board certified emergency physician and clinical assistant professor in Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Davis. He previously served as the medical director of the Emergency Department at Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree and the medical director of the Los Angeles County Paramedic Training Institute.
In 2005, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Dr. Aristeiguieta director of the California Emergency Medical Authority (EMSA).
He was awarded the California Department of Transportation 2003 Excellence in Transportation Award for his leadership in the creation of the Angeles Crest Highway Traffic Safety Corridor Project. He serves on the national Board of Governors of the American Red Cross and the Board of Advisors of Goodwill Industries of Southern California.
President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Aristeiguieta to the 2002 – 03 class of White House Fellows. As a senior member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Aristeiguieta served his fellowship year as a direct advisor to Secretary Tommy Thompson on a wide variety of health, safety, and welfare matters.
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Mel Atkinson – Atkinson is president and chairman of the board of M. D. Atkinson Company, Inc., which he founded in 1982. He is a lifelong resident of kern County. With over 25 years of extensive experience in property management, Atkinson understands the needs of both private and institutional investors.The M. D. Atkinson Company, Inc. provides a variety of asset and property management services to more than 80 different properties throughout Central California.
Headquartered in Bakersfield, M. D. Atkinson Company, Inc.'s portfolio of more than 6,000,000 square-feet includes office buildings, shopping centers, industrial, multi-family properties and owner associations.
Atkinson earned his bachelor's of science in business administration in 1977 and is a former CSUB Alumni of the Year. After his graduation he earned his Certified Property Manager designation.
Atkinson is active in many civic, service and industry groups including the Rotary Club of Bakersfield, where he served as president in 1995-96,~CSUB Alumni Association, Roadrunner Club (current executive board member and past president), Association of Realtors, Institute of Real Estate Management, and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Atkinson is a past chairman of the CSUB Foundation Board and was the first alumnus asked to serve on the CSUB Foundation Board. In addition, he serves on the board of directors for Bakersfield Christian High School and San Joaquin Bank.
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Wendy Wayne – Wayne has received the Temple Beth El's Hillel award for her humanitarian work, and has often been called the 'Mother Theresa of Bakersfield.' She holds a doctorate degree in educational leadership, a master's in public health, and received a bachelor's of science in nursing from CSUB in 1978.
She is a women's healthcare nurse practitioner, a public health nurse, childbirth educator and a credentialed community college educator. Wayne currently works as the executive director of First 5 Kern.
Besides supporting Kern County's child development projects, and working as an early childcare and education consultant throughout California, Wayne has served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya and has vaccinated children for polio in India and Nigeria as a Rotary Club of Bakersfield volunteer.
"We are pleased to recognize three more outstanding graduates of CSU Bakersfield," Chaffin said. "Mel, Wendy and Cesar exemplify professional success as well as personal integrity. Each has excelled in their chosen field and been generous in their commitment of time and resources to the community and the campus. We couldn't ask for a more distinguished group of individuals to represent CSUB," she explained.
Event sponsorships range from friend level starting at $500 to platinum level at $10,000. Higher-level sponsors will be invited to attend an exclusive pre-banquet event.
Reservations are $75 per person or $600 for a table of eight. Seating is limited. Social hour starts at 6 p.m. with dinner and the program beginning at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the black-tie event benefit the CSUB Alumni Scholarship Fund.
For more information, please contact CSUB's Alumni Relations office at (661) 654-3211 or alumni@csub.edu or Chaffin at (661) 395-7299.