By Vanessa Rakis-Garabedian
California State University, Fresno, alumni will be recognized Oct. 15 at the Fresno State Alumni Association’s Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala, part of the Centennial Homecoming.
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Oliver, who will be honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Top Dog Award, has served as chairman of the Fresno State Foundation board for several years and received the 2010 Foundation Service Award for his work.
The Alumni Association gives the awards to former students or graduates. Top Dogs represent the university’s colleges and schools, athletics, the Henry Madden Library, Student Affairs and Graduate Studies.
The 2010 Outstanding Alumni are: winery senior vice president Hal H. Huffsmith, award-winning poet Brian Turner, trial lawyer Brian Panish, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, University High School head James Bushman, inventor James Kardach, retired college president Burton Wadsworth (deceased), career educator Jim Yovino, law office administrator Denise Sciandra, psychological researcher Edward Diener, economics professor Ray Fair, and Clovis Council Member Bob Whalen.
The Alumni Association also will present the Arthur Safstrom Service Award, which recognizes service in the community and in support of Fresno State. The 2010 recipients are Hal Kissler and Maureen Lewis, chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Manco Abbott.