News Release

IWV Campus

Samuel Irving Named Cerro Coso's Spring 2008 "Student of the Semester"

May 7, 2008

The Cerro Coso Community College Alumni Association has been recognizing the outstanding achievements of Cerro Coso students each semester since 1988 by soliciting nominations from the faculty at all campus sites. The Alumni Association proudly announces the recipient of the Spring 2008 "Student of the Semester" award is Samuel Irving from the IWV Campus. Irving was honored at an Alumni Association awards luncheon on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at Texas Cattle Company. He was nominated for this award by Cerro Coso Community College instructors Dr. Christine Swiridoff, Dr. Don Rosenberg and Dr. John Stenger-Smith. Swiridoff stated, "Sam is one of the brightest, most dedicated, well-spoken, focused, and intellectually curious students I have seen in my ten years at Cerro Coso. He recently presented his research at the Honors Transfer Council of California's Undergraduate Research Conference at UC, Irvine on March 1, winning not one but two awards, including the Director's Award, their highest honor given." In the nomination from Rosenberg, he stated, "In my decades of teaching, I have never experienced a student so capable, so dedicated, and so accomplished in all of his academic studies." Stenger-Smith shared, "Sam is thought of very highly by all of his instructors. He has been one of the top students in the upper-level science classes for the past 4 semesters."

Overall GPA, class participation, extracurricular activities, and community involvement are all considered in the selection process for this award. Irving is currently enrolled in 15.5 units, has completed 67.5 units, and carries and overall GPA of 3.88. He has listed his major as Biology with an emphasis in Biology/Chemistry and will be graduating from Cerro Coso on May 16, 2008.

"The Alumni Association is very proud to bestow this award on Samuel Irving and acknowledge his many achievements by selecting him as the Spring 2008 "Student of the Semester," stated Director of Information, Development, and Alumni Relations, Joann Handeland. Irving was presented with a framed certificate of appreciation, an alumni pin, a $200 cash award, a special Cerro Coso remembrance gift, his name added to a perpetual plaque honoring all recipients of this distinguished award, and his photo will be displayed on "Student of the Semester" bulletin boards at the IWV Campus.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230