A Rio Salado College student and former Glendale resident has been named one of the nation's top 20 community college students through her selection to the prestigious 2002 All-USA Academic Team sponsored by USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The program recognizes community college students based on academics, honors, awards, activities, leadership and community service.

Bambi Kalwarovski is the only All-USA Academic Team honoree to take her college courses through distance learning. This busy mother of three continues to take distance learning courses through Rio Salado from her new home in upstate New York. Bambi received a minimum of $5,500 in stipends, plus a commemorative trophy and medallion. She also received one of 50 New Century Scholar awards for being the top community college student in Arizona.

Bambi plans to continue her education and ultimately receive a Master's degree in counseling.

KJZZ's Doug Ramsey has been recognized as "Reporter of the Year" by the Arizona Associated Press. Runner-up honors went to Chris Chesrown, former Producer, Reporter and Host with KJZZ. In all, staffers at KJZZ won six 1st Place awards, five 2nd Place awards, and three 3rd Place awards.

Ramsey also won 1st Place in News Writing and in Sports Reporting; 2nd Place for Use of Sound and for Serious Feature; and 3rd Place, along with Terry Ward, for the Paul McGonigle Memorial Award, Best Newscast.

Chesrown also won 1st Place, Use of Sound; and 3rd Place in Light Feature. Jeff Parets, midday host, won 1st Place, Public Service; and 2nd Place in both Enterprise and Light Feature categories. Steve Goldstein, won 1st Place, Light Feature; and 3rd Place in Serious Feature. Mark Moran won 1st Place in the Serious Feature category. Terry Ward, in addition to the newscast award, won 2nd Place in the Series category. To hear the winning stories visit http://kjzz.org/news/awards/ap_2002.

Sun Sounds Director of Development, David Noble, was awarded the prestigious C. Stanley Potter Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Audio Information Services (IAAIS). Named after the father of radio reading, the award is given to an individual who has significantly furthered the cause of information access for disabled people on a national level.

Sun Sounds continued its winning tradition by bringing home two other awards from the 25th annual IAAIS conference. "Hands Down Yoga," a show which instructs blind and visually impaired people on the physical and philosophical aspects of Yoga, won a Best Program Award. The program is produced by volunteer Toni Lembo, and Director of Operations, Margie Zebell. You can listen to it live on the internet at 6:30 AM Saturdays at http://sunsounds.org.

Sun Sounds also won the Public Awareness Award for its live radio drama series. Conceived by former Sun Sounds Director of Development, Lou Stanley, the series was produced by Marketing Coordinator, Shari Boulanger. The program's success is largely dependent on its many volunteers.

After 38 years in education, Dr. Mike Rooney is retiring. For 15 years, Rooney has been the Director of Student Development Services at the Maricopa Community Colleges, coordinating the planning, development, maintenance, implementation and evaluation of student development services programs. Rooney is known throughout the district for his quick wit and sense of humor as well as his compassionate nature. He began his career as a high school English teacher and counselor and has also led student services programs in the Dallas and St. Louis Community College Districts.

Rooney and his wife Joan plan to travel, spend time with their three grown children and two grandchildren, and pamper their West Highland Terrier and Scottish Terrier a bit more. (Is that possible?) Rooney will get the opportunity to return to the campus in the fall when he begins an active retirement assignment at Scottsdale Community College.

Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Carol Carter, is retiring from her post after 24 years with the Maricopa Community Colleges. Carter has also served as Affirmative Action Administrator for the district. She is a nationally known business consultant, specializing in diversity facilitation and plans to continue her work in an independent capacity. Carter is also a principle partner in an executive placement and outsourcing consulting service for college and university presidents.

She began her career as an elementary school teacher and plans to stay active in retirement as a lead fundraiser at CGCC, as well as with her many professional and church activities. Carol says her most joyful achievement is her adult daughter Neal and her grandchild Mackenzie Grace.

One of the people who helped open the doors at South Mountain Community College, Dr. James Galbraith, is retiring. Galbraith has held several positions at SMCC including Director of Admissions and Records, Executive Assistant to the President, Director of Business Services, Associate Dean of Continuing Education, and Associate Dean of Instruction for Occupational Education.

Galbraith has also been president of many professional and service organizations. He has been married to his wife Susan for 34 years and they have one son.

Galbraith vows to keep busy in retirement with travel. His first journey will be a trip to Tonga, delivering medicine and educational materials. Church activities and a quarter-time assignment at SMCC establishing an alumni association, working with the Senior Adult Network, the Parent Education Program and a Master Student Program for the children of Guadalupe, are also planned.

Maricopa Skill Center chef Dan Bochicchio has retired after teaching food preparation for 25 years at the Center. A Certified Working Chef, he came to the Skill Center from the Wigwam Resort, saying he liked the Skill Center's hours better.. .no evenings or weekends.

He now has time for his passion. . .motorcycling. He says the open road keeps calling.

After over 30 years of experience in community college education, Dr. Margaret Hogan is retiring. Among her various roles over the years have been teaching, administration and district-level staff positions. She said her greatest joy came from being a part of establishing a new college in the Maricopa Community Colleges. She served as Assistant Provost and Dean of Instruction for Chandler-Gilbert Community College for 13 years. Her future plans include returning to teaching and enjoying her family, particularly her grandchildren.

Projects pictured in the magazine are SCC’s Fitness Center (Architekton) and GCC’s Physical Sciences Building, the Library Media Center and the Physical Sciences and Mathematics Classroom Building. For more visit: www.architecturemag.com. View more photos.