More than 250 people gathered on Feb. 12, 2011 to watch student performances, bid on silent auction items, dine on delicious foods and dance the night away at the Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation An Evening With Our Stars gala held at the Pechanga Resort in Temecula.
The annual gala is the MSJC Foundation’s signature event to raise funds for student scholarships, faculty mini grants and other philanthropic endeavors that support the college and its students.
The 3rd annual gala’s theme was A Rainforest Rendezvous and during the cocktail hour included animals indigenous to the rainforest and fire dancers. The event featured a student performance competition, Alumni & Friends Awards ceremony, an elegant dinner and entertainment by the Valley Winds, a community band produced by a non-credit course through MSJC’s Continuing Education.
Six students competed for a chance to win scholarships. Winners of the Student Performance Competition received scholarships. The panel of judges – Warren Gref—Artistic Director of the Golden Valley Music Society; Andrew Masiel, Pechanga Tribal Council; Cesaria Hernandez , who was recently cast as Ramona in Hemet’s popular outdoor play Ramona; Duane Minard, Ms. Hernandez’s husband, who will star as Alessandro in Ramona; and jazz vocalist Yve Evans – selected the winners.
MSJC Trustees Ann Motte and Dorothy McGargill each donated $100 to each of the three who did not win a scholarship. An anonymous donor contributed $500 to each of the six student contestants.
Student performers winning scholarships were:
· Wilson Hong, Temecula – Dancer, First place, $1,000 scholarship
· Carey Pickford, Temecula – Juggler, Second place, $500 scholarship
· Matthew Avina, Hemet – Guitar/vocal, Third place, $250 scholarship
Alumni & Friends Association Awards went to:
Daryl Wilkes -- Outstanding Staff Member of the Year. The Facilities Supervisor at MSJC’s San Jacinto Campus, Wilkes has been recognized as a dedicated employee who volunteers his time at various college events.
Roger Ziemer -- Outstanding Community Volunteer of the Year. The recently retired public affairs representative from Southern California Gas Company has secured thousands of dollars worth of scholarships for MSJC students from Sempra Energy and has guest-lectured in business classes at MSJC and at local high schools.
Russell “Butch” Murphy -- Outstanding Alumni of the Year. A member of the Pechanga Tribal Council who earned his associate’s degree at MSJC, Mr. Murphy was one of the college’s football heroes and received All-American honors in football. He is known for supporting education throughout the region.
Mt. San Jacinto College and the MSJC Foundation wish to thank all of those who attended the event and appreciate the support you give the students and the college.
Special thanks goes to the event Sponsors:
· The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians
· The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians
· Francis Domenigoni Family Trust
· Siemans
· Echo Pacific Construction
· Zampi, Determan & Erickson LLP
· Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
· Golden Era Golf Course
· Golden Era Productions
· Miller-Jones Mortuary and Cemetery
· The Bank of Hemet
· KFrog Country Radio
· Image Source
· Inland Empire Magazine
· The Californian
· Southwest Riverside News Network
· The Press-Enterprise
· Banning Chamber of Commerce
· Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone
· Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley
· Maurice Car’rie Winery
· Leonesse Cellars