Note to editors and reporters: Call the Public Affairs office at (323) 343-3050 in advance to request a press pass to the Gala or to request for a detailed biography of an honoree.
Renowned muralist and artist named Cal State L.A.’s ‘Alumnus of the Year’
Frank Romero, 11 others, to be honored at University’s 37th Alumni Awards Gala
Los Angeles, CA – Roll out the “black and gold” carpet…. California State University, Los Angeles announces Frank Edward Romero (‘09), one of the most important Chicano artists at work today, as the recipient of the University’s 2011 Alumnus of the Year.
A renowned muralist and artist, Romero (Los Angeles resident) is a member of the first Chicano Art Collective—“Los Four”—which forged and defined the Chicano Art Movement in the 1970s. His art has immortalized many of the historical events that are significant to East Los Angeles and Chicano communities in the region. Romero currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center for the Arts and Education.
Additionally, seven outstanding CSULA alumni, two remarkable individuals and two students will be recognized during the 37th annual Alumni Awards Gala Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, on the Cal State L.A. campus.
2011 University Service Award
Annie Chin Siu, D.D.S., is a retired orthodontist, and Tim K. Siu, M.D., is a retired anesthesiologist and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy. Both have assisted in establishing numerous scholarships at CSULA. They reside in Alhambra.
Distinguished Faculty Alumnus
E. Frederick Anderson (’65) is a professor and founding director of the School of Social Work and Master of Social Work Program. He is a Los Angeles resident.
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Elisa Crystal Callow (’90), independent consultant, Organizational and Strategic Planning Program and Staff Development (La Canada resident)
Roland D. Kelly (’56), chairman, Spectrum Asset Management, Inc. (Newport Beach resident)
Maria Casillas (’78), chief of school, family and parent/community services, Los Angeles Unified School District (Valley Village resident)
Matthew R. Landano (’63, ‘68), director, Office of Safety and Mission Success, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (La Canada-Flintridge resident)
Ronald Bension (’81), chief executive officer, House of Blues Entertainment (La Canada-Flintridge resident)
Joan Feldman (’78), director of human resources, Benefits and Technology Solutions, University of Arizona (Tucson resident)
Outstanding Senior
Stephanie Moreno Aoalin (B.S., Nursing ’12), La Crescenta resident
Outstanding Graduate Student
Amira Francesca Ainis (M.A., Anthropology ’11), Alhambra resident
Organized by the CSULA Alumni Association, the event opens with a VIP reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Luckman Gallery. The dinner festivity begins at 6:30 p.m. on the campus’ Luckman Street of the Arts, followed by an Academy Awards-style ceremony and multimedia video presentation in the Luckman Theatre. (Congratulatory ads can be purchased in advance.) For tickets or more info, call (323) 343-2586 or visit http://alumni.calstatela.edu/awardsgala/index.htm.
What: Cal State L.A. presents its 37th Annual Alumni Awards Gala.
When: Thursday, Oct. 6, 5:30 p.m.-VIP reception; 6:30 p.m.-dinner program
Where: Luckman Fine Arts Complex, on the CSULA campus. The University is located at the Eastern Avenue exit, San Bernardino (I-10) Freeway, at the interchange of 10 and 710 freeways. Public permit dispenser parking is available in Lot 7 or upper level Parking Structure C.
Info: Call the Alumni Association at (323) 343-2586.
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Working for California since 1947: The 175-acre hilltop campus of California State University, Los Angeles is at the heart of a major metropolitan city, just five miles from Los Angeles’ civic and cultural center. More than 20,000 students and 220,000 alumni—with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds—reflect the city’s dynamic mix of populations. Six Colleges offer nationally recognized science, arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and humanities programs, among others, led by an award-winning faculty. Cal State L.A. is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Jazz Orchestra and to the Honors College for high-achieving students, opening in fall 2011. Programs that provide exciting enrichment opportunities to students and community include an NEH-supported humanities center; a NASA-funded center for space research; and a growing forensic science program, housed in the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center. www.calstatela.edu