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[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2294-E2295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                      HONORING THE TOP DOG ALUMNI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate all of 
the 2008 Top Dog Award recipients from California State University, 
Fresno. All award winners were honored on Friday October 10, 2008 at 
the Awards Gala at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
  The Top Dog Award is a great tradition for CSU Fresno. It allows the 
University to honor alumni that continue to give back to the 
University. There are three award categories: Distinguished Alumnus 
Award, Outstanding Alumni Awards and the Arthur Safstrom Service Award.
  The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor given to an 
alumna of the University. The award is based on scholarship, leadership 
and service to CSU Fresno, the San Joaquin Valley and the State of 
California. It has been established to provide special recognition to 
an individual who has distinguished themselves through outstanding 
achievement during their post-collegiate career. The University 
President and the Alumni Association present the award.
  For 2008 the Distinguished Alumnus Award is being given to Nat 
DiBuduo, class of 1972. Mr. DiBuduo has strong roots in the Central San 
Joaquin Valley as a vineyard and winery owner. He attended CSU Fresno 
where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science/
Viticulture and a minor in Business. He is also a graduate of the 
California Ag Leadership Program, holds a Certified Pest Control 
Advisor's license and a Department of Real Estate sales license. He has 
worked as an independent consultant overseeing farm management of 
24,000 acres of winegrapes, nuts and vegetables. Today, he is President 
of Allied Grape Growers; a local organization that works with over 500 
grower members from throughout California to competitively market the 
crops. During his time at CSU Fresno, he was student body vice 
president, but his service to the commundy did not stop there. He 
generously gives to his alma mater, and serves on the boards of the Ag 
One Foundation and the Fresno State Alumni Association.
  The Outstanding Alumni Awards recognize CSU Fresno alumna for 
outstanding accomplishments in their field and to present such alumni 
to current CSU Fresno students as examples of exceptional achievement. 
The Alumni Association works in conjunction with the deans of CSU 
Fresno's eight schools/colleges, as well as the dean of student affairs 
and the athletic director to identify and select candidates for the 
awards.
  This year there are twelve Outstanding Alumni Awards from the various 
schools, colleges and divisions. The honorees are:
  Dr. Robert C. Cannell (class of 1986) from the College of Agriculture 
Sciences and Technology. Dr. Cannell is the supply chain director for 
McDonald's USA and is responsible for the quality and safety of the 
restaurant chain's beef and pork.
  Brad Lewis (class of 1980) from the College of Arts and Humanities. 
Mr. Lewis is a Pixar Animation Studios producer, whose movie 
``Ratatouille'' received Oscar, Golden Globe and Clio awards.
  Kern Donis (class of 1991) from the Athletics Department. Ms Donis is 
a former Bulldog softball star; she played for two national titles. She 
is now deputy chief for the Fresno Fire Department.
  Steve Heinrichs (class of 1968) from the Craig School of Business. 
Mr. Heinrichs is a managing partner of Bulldog Capital Partners, a 
venture fund that invests in new business ideas and companies with 
potential to contribute to the Central San Joaquin Valley economy.
  Darlene Spano (class of 1969) from the Kremen School of Education and 
Human Development. Ms. Spano has been an elementary school teacher in 
Fresno for 32 years. She had embraced computer technology early enough 
to educate and assist her students and colleagues.
  Dr. Vida Ilderem (class of 1982) from the College of Engineering. Dr. 
Ilderem is the vice president of physical and digital realization 
research at Motorola Laboratories, the applied research arm of 
Motorola.
  Mabelle Selland (class of 1950 and 1972) from the Division of 
Graduate Studies. Ms. Selland's community service includes the 
preservation of the old Administration Building at Fresno City College, 
the Veterans Memorial Auditorium restoration and active participation 
in numerous organizations.
  Pamela Loewen (class of 1966) from the College of Health and Human 
Services. Ms. Loewen has followed a career in military and public 
health nursing with extensive service to the University's Department of 
Nursing as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
  Kendall Manock (class of 1951) from the Henry Madden Library. Mr. 
Manock is a local attorney and has been instrumental in obtaining 
materials for the Library's Central Valley Political Archive. He has 
also worked on many other library initiatives.
  Dr. Roy James Shlemon (class of 1958) from the College of Science and 
Mathematics. Dr. Shlemon has a consulting geological practice that 
focuses on sites for nuclear power plants, waste facilities, large dams 
and residential developments throughout the world.
  Thomas Williams (class of 1970) from the College of Social Sciences. 
Mr. Williams is the chairman and CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, 
part of the NBC Universal division of GE.
  Ambassador Phillip Sanchez (class of 1957 and 1972) from the Division 
of Student Affairs. Ambassador Sanchez retired as a newspaper publisher 
after government services included two ambassadorships and directing 
the War on Poverty as the nation's highest-ranking Latino government 
official.
  The third award is the Arthur Safstrom Service Award; it is awarded 
to an alumna or

[[Page E2295]]

friend of CSU Fresno who has given outstanding service to the Alumni 
Association and/or the University. This year the award is presented to 
Dr. Arnold and Dianne Gazarian. The Gazarians' generous donations to 
the university have included a gift to the Smittcamp Alumni House, the 
Friends of the Madden Library, the President's Fund and the Craig 
School of Business to establish the Arnold and Dianne Gazarian Real 
Estate Center. The couple has also provided incentives to attract 
others' gifts for the Haig and Isabel Berberian Endowed Chair in 
Armenian Studies. Beyond the campus, the Gazarians are benefactors of 
the Berberian Community Hospice Patient Services Center as well as the 
Homeless and Transitional Living Center in Modesto, California.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate all of the 
Top Dog Award recipients for their individual contributions. I invite 
my colleagues to join me in wishing the honorees many years of 
continual success.

                          ____________________
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