The top award winners and 21 other active volunteers were saluted at the annual Volunteer Services Awards ceremony before more than 300 faculty, staff, alumni and other volunteers.

The Dorothea "Granny" Heitz Award for Outstanding Volunteer Leadership is given to alumni who serve as role models for CSUN's large corps of volunteers. Named for the alumna whose self-styled "spirit squad" members were unofficial CSUN ambassadors in the 1960s, the award was presented to Al and Sherry Lapides for service to Cal State Northridge that, between them, goes back 30 years.

In 1974, Al Lapides helped develop a career goal mentoring program for undergraduates before moving on to scholarship and special projects fundraising work with what is now the President's Associates. A member of the Foundation Board since 1990, he served as vice chair through its formative years, and became an advisor to CSUN's Family Business Center at its inception.

Lapides received his business degree in 1968 and his teaching certificate in 1969, both from San Fernando Valley State College, now CSUN.

Lapides' wife, Sherry, began her formal CSUN volunteer service around 1990 as a member of the President's Associates and is active with the Dean's Council of the College of Arts, Media, and Communication.

Residents of Northridge since the 1950s, the couple in 1972 helped found Replacement Parts Industries.

The 2004 Emeriti Merit Award, recognizing support of the university by an emeritus or retired member of the faculty, was presented to John Guarrera.

Guarrera is credited with saving the College of Engineering and Computer Science more than 30 years ago, when the college was threatened with elimination in a move to streamline system-wide academic offerings.

In 2003, Guarrera joined with family and friends in creating a $100,000 endowment to provide students with firsthand experience in state-of-the-art technology, with an eye toward successful careers in the field. The first Guarrera scholarship was awarded this year.

Other 2004 Volunteer Award winners:

COLLEGE RECIPIENTS

• Michael Bessolo, College of Business and Economics
• Ethel Bliven, Oviatt Library
• Julie Fabrocini, Michael D. Eisner College of Education
• Kathy and Matthew Fein, College of Health and Human Development
• Gene Fritsche, College of Science and Mathematics
• Edward Gilbert, Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning
• Tom Hutchison, Intercollegiate Athletics
• Theresa Jester, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Larry Layne, College of Arts, Media, and Communication
• Sanford "Sandy" Paris, University Advancement
• Joy Picus, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

ALUMNI CHAPTER RECIPIENTS

• Paul Albert, Health Administration Alumni Chapter
• Kristin Amey, National Center on Deafness (NCOD) Alumni Chapter
• Keith Jajko, Journalism Alumni Association
• Dewayne Jones, Finance and Real Estate Alumni Chapter
• Annie Ksadzhikyan, Association of Armenian Alumni
• Tammy Tolgo, Masters of Business Alumni Association
• Giovanny Triviño, Association of Latino Alumni
• Diane Visencio, Masters of Public Health Alumni Chapter
• Liza White, Communication Disorders and Sciences Alumni Chapter
• Morris Zagha, Accounting and Information Systems (IS) Alumni Chapter