Four Newest “Hall of Fame” Members Inducted During College’s 68th Recognition Ceremony
Article by: Melinda Eddleman
The evening was filled with excitement and celebration as Del Mar College (DMC) held its 68th Recognition Ceremony in Richardson Performance Hall on April 25. The annual event recognizes the top student achievers not only in each divisional department but also those few students whose efforts have earned them a place in the College’s prestigious “Hall of Fame.”
Before the four newest honorees were inducted, Del Mar first recognized this year’s Instructors of the Year as well as 89 students who received “Outstanding Achievement” Awards in programs of study in the Arts and Sciences Division, the Health Sciences and Professional Education Division and the Business, Industrial and Public Safety Education Division.
DMC Student Government Association leadership presented awards to the two Instructors of the Year––Billy Bob Long, professor of biology with the Natural Sciences Department on the East Campus, and Diana Keeler, instructor of nurse education with the Nurse Education Department on the West Campus––who were selected by the College’s student body.
A time-honored tradition since 1949, the Hall of Fame induction commenced with the following students named as the 2018-2019 honorees: Pedro Armando Lopez, business administration major; Troy Nessner, five majors including history, liberal arts Mexican American Studies, political science and sociology; Natasha M. Perez, speech major; and Roslyn Camille Swonke, geology and liberal arts major. Students are selected for their scholarship, leadership and participation in student organizations.
Accomplishments of these students include
Lopez
Organizational memberships: Alpha Beta Gamma, Phi Theta Kappa, Geoscience Society and DMC Ambassador
Activities: Community College Day in Austin, Junior Achievement, graduation volunteer and served on student focus group
Honors: Outstanding Accounting Student
Nessner
Organizational memberships: Student Government Association and French Club
Activities: Day of the Dead Festival and research for placement of a Texas Historical Marker on the East Campus
Honors: Outstanding Sociology Student
Perez
Organizational memberships: Phi Theta Kappa, Student Government Association (President), Vocal Viking Forensic Squad, DMC Green Team and DMC Ambassador
Activities: Small Business Internship Program, Community College Day in Austin, Texas Junior College Student Government Association state conference and steering committee member for the Viking Food Pantry
Honors: President’s List and Outstanding Speech Student
Swonke
Organizational memberships: DMC Geoscience Society, Student Government Association, DMC Green Team and Phi Theta Kappa
Community involvement: NASA Space Intern and Deputy Voting Registrar
Honors: President’s List, Natural Science Academic Excellence Award and 81st Percentile on American Chemical Society General Chemistry Exam
These four students join the ranks of nearly 410 Hall of Fame inductees who set the bar before them and whose images and listed accomplishments now reside on the first and second floors of the Harvin Student Center on the East Campus.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.