Angel Navarrete
Food services assistant for 20 years (17 years at De Anza and
three years at Foothill)
Contributions:
“I’ve always tried to be nice to every customer who comes
to Food Services. For instance, I remember things about my customers and
later I ask them how they’re doing. In addition, I make sure our
disabled customers get extra assistance if they need it. More than half
my time at De Anza, I’ve been responsible for making desserts such
as banana bread, cheesecake, bread pudding and flan. I’m so thankful
for my co-workers and two managers, Patrick Gannon and Klaus Dehn, who
have always been supportive whenever I needed it.” Retirement
plans:
“I’ll be donating my time to my family by taking care
of my granddaughter, Mia. Also, I’ll have more time to crochet;
and I actually really like to bake! My husband Jose and I just won a
trip to Hawaii; and we’ll also go to El Salvador with our daughter
Sonia, our son Alfredo and our granddaughter to visit our family there.”
Karen Johnson
Program coordinator, Grants Office and formerly OTI for a total of
19.5 years of service
Contributions:
“At 30 years old, I gained so much when I attended Canada College
that I was determined to give back in a community college setting. My
goals at De Anza have been to help make that same positive difference
in other people’s lives and to make the college and district a part
of the larger community. In the process, I think I’ve always supplied
a lot of humor! In OTI I worked on a number of programs that helped our
students and community members. Examples include the refugee project for
Foothill-De Anza students that expanded to include refugees in the entire
county; the tech link project for the Job Training Partnership Act that
connected NOVA, De Anza and San Jose City College; the pre-employment
placement project that provided workshops and job placement for people
at the end of their unemployment assistance; the GAIN (Greater Avenues
for Independence) program that expanded to include a job club and job
training for welfare recipients; and lastly a summer youth employment
program to help disadvantaged and severely disabled youth find employment.
Through the years, I worked with all the academic divisions to bring them
together for OTI and grant projects. While serving as the Classified Senate
president in 2000-2001, my goal was to unite classified employees and
give them a voice that was valued, listened to and validated. I think
it is rare to be in an environment where people strive to be creative
and think outside the box. What a blessing!” Retirement
plans:
“I’m planning a new adventure in the Pacific Northwest
where I’ve bought a house contingent upon selling my home in Half
Moon Bay. I’m continuing to get well and will make the most of
each day of my retirement. My son Peter, daughter-in-law Katie, grandson
Logan, and granddaughter Pantera will all move to Washington state with
me.”
Margaret Obenour
Financial aid assistant, 17.5 years
Contributions:
“From the beginning I helped administer scholarships, but I’ve
also worked with state of California grants as well as tracked the progress
of all our financial aid recipients to make sure they were making satisfactory
progress. At first, I handled approximately 20 scholarships. Now more
than 120 scholarships are available to our students. They may be endowed
scholarships (the principal is not touched) or trust scholarships (a one-time
scholarship or a spend-down account funded by individual donations). For
a number of years before the Foothill-De Anza Colleges Foundation was
established, I worked directly with donors to set up scholarships. For
example, I worked with a community member, Dale Schoettler, who wanted
to help visually impaired students. At the beginning, he donated $500
each year. At his request, I’d arrange for him to meet the student
receiving his scholarship. In 1991 Mr. Schoettler, who was legally blind,
gave a lump sum of $15,000 to assist visually impaired students. Eleven
years later he left $4 million to the Foundation to assist students with
physical limitations. On campus, I contributed my time to the Classified
Senate for six years and served as senator, secretary and treasurer.”
Retirement plans:
“My colleagues in the Financial Aid Office are like family
to me and will be my lifelong friends. My other family is made up of
husband Obie, who worked at De Anza for 30 years, as well as our sons
Cory and Mark and our daughter Beth, who will get married in April.
In January Obie and I, our children and their significant others will
all travel to Italy to visit family. In retirement Obie and I will live
in two places, Willow Glen and Rio del Mar, where I’ll enjoy gardening
and reading. I’m already buying books I want to read.”
Sharon Sunico
Director of College Readiness, 13 years of service
Contributions:
“I helped to provide a strong support system for developmental
education; provided curricular leadership, processes and updated forms
to serve students and faculty more efficiently; and assisted in accreditation
reports for the last two visits.”
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