University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

MEDIA RELEASE

Volunteers in Limelight at Cal State Northridge Appreciation Event

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Nov. 7, 2007) — The shining lights of Cal State Northridge’s corps of volunteers were applauded at the university’s 2007 Volunteer Service Awards ceremony, held Nov. 1 at The Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills. President Jolene Koester and CSUN Alumni Association Vice President Maria Ramos led the tribute to 24 dedicated volunteers.

Receiving top honors were longtime CSUN Foundation Board member John Golisch, class of 1972, winner of the Dorothea "Granny" Heitz Award, and CSUN biology professor emeritus Daisy Kuhn, the Emeriti Merit Award winner.

"Cal State Northridge wants its volunteers to know that their generous work on the university’s behalf truly is valued," said Alumni Relations Assistant Vice President Gray Mounger. "Their skills, time and spirit are invaluable assets to the university and its mission."

The Heitz Award for outstanding volunteer leadership recognized Golisch, partner at BDO Seidman, LLP, for his service on the CSUN Foundation Board, which the certified public accountant joined at the invitation of former president James Cleary in 1985, when the board was known as the Cal State Northridge Trust Fund.

A member of the President’s Associates, Golisch earned that group’s Community Leadership Award for his help in securing a $100,000 endowed faculty fellowship gift to the College of Business and Economics from accounting services firm Arthur Andersen & Co. In addition, CSUN’s Alumni Association saluted Golisch with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985.

Also a member of the President’s 21st Century Club, the active volunteer has worked on the College of Business and Economics’ Council of Business Advisors, the North Campus Development Committee and key campus search committees.

Golisch was a friend of the late Dorothea "Granny" Heitz, for whom his award was named. As an older student at what then was San Fernando Valley State College, Heitz formed the celebrated "Granny Girls" spirit squad, the campus’ unofficial ambassadors. She died in summer 2007 after decades as CSUN’s volunteer-in-chief.

Emeriti Merit Award winner Daisy Kuhn’s CSUN career stretched from 1959 to 1992, during which time she taught a range of courses, from general biology and microbiology to graduate courses.

A species of bacterium, Conchiformibius Kuhniae, was named in honor of the scientist, who has identified several unusual organisms.

Retired since 1992, Kuhn volunteers as an advisor to CSUN pre-med students. In 2002, her volunteer work in the university’s College of Science and Mathematics earned her a Volunteer Service Award, and she received the Distinguished Professor Award in 1980.

Other honored volunteers included:

• Daniel Anderson, CSUN class of 1983, by the College of Business and Economics
• Patrick Baker, class of 1978, by KCSN 88.5 FM
• Damon Cianci, bachelor’s from CSUN in 1996 and master’s from CSUN in 2002, by the Health Administration Alumni Chapter
• Deborah Cours by the Master’s in Business Administration Alumni Chapter
• Lisalee Egbert, bachelor’s in 1991 and master’s in 1993, by the National Center on Deafness Alumni Chapter
• Gevork Gabrelian, class of 1994, by the Alumni and Friends of the Armenian Studies Program
• Bernice Haber by the Oviatt Library
• Marni Hager, class of 2005, by the College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ralph Jones, class of 1996, by the Environmental and Occupational Health Alumni Chapter
• Tahseena Khan, bachelor’s in 2003 and master’s in 2005, by the Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Chapter
• Mark Lainer by the College of Humanities
• Phil Minah, class of 1976, by University Advancement
• Harry Murphy, class of 1966, by Student Affairs
• Marcy Newman, class 2004, by the Education Alumni Chapter
• John Perez , bachelor’s in 1968 and credential in 1969, by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Kenn Phillips by the Michael D. Eisner College of Education
• Steve Pomerantz, class of 1990, by Intercollegiate Athletics
• Carson Schreiber, class of 1966, by the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication
• Ronald Sorensen, bachelor’s in 1988 and master’s in 1993, by the College of Health and Human Development
• Patricia Tabidian, master’s in 1998, by the Recreation Alumni Chapter
• Donna Watkins, class of 2001, by the Accounting and Information Systems Alumni Association
• Bryce Yokomizo by the Tseng College of Extended Learning