JACC

Distinguished Service To Journalism Education Award Honorees Bios

Here is some information about each of these distinguished friends of journalism education.
2008
JOLENE COMBS, El Camino College: Jolene Combs is one of the most respected and energetic faculty advisers In JACC history. She was a consummate worker in JACC and journalism education for more than 35 years formally ?she undoubtedly will continue in retirement. Most of those were at El Camino College, but prior to that she had a distinguished high school teaching career. Her high school connections are still strong and she is co-founder of Newspapers2, a summer workshop for high school students and their advisers. She?s a former JACC faculty president and SoCal president. She?s represented community college journalism nationally as a president of the Community College Journalism Association and was one of the few community college teachers to ever sit on the national College Media Advisers board. She was recognized as California Newspaper Publishers Association?s Community College Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1989. in 2005 was inducted in CCJA?s Hall of Fame for outstanding community college teachers and she was awarded the National Scholastic Press Association?s Pioneer Award in 2006.
2007
ASSEMBLYMAN LELAND YEE, state assembly: Assemblyman Lee sponsored legislation that would protect students from censorship by college administrators The legislation became necessary as a result of a Hosty v. Carter decision that for the first time suggested that student press limitations approved by the Supreme Court in the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier decision might also apply to the college press. California became the first state to say, ""Not here." Shortly after other states followed California's lead.
2006
JOHN CARROLL, LA Times: John Carroll is the former editor of the Los Angeles Times. While editor the Times was instrumental in introducing and building edcuational relationships and programs, including with JACC. However, shortly aftr Carroll was replaced as editor the Times and its parent Tribune Company announced a number of budget cuts, including a major cutback in student education programs. By the time he was honored by JACC Carroll was no longer at the Times and was unable to personally attend the JACC convention.
2005
DR. CRISTINA L. AZOCAR, San Francisco State University: Dr. Cristina L. Azocar is the director of the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism (CIIJ) and an adjunct assistant professor of journalism at San Francisco State University. Already a regular workshop speaker at JACC conferences for years, Dr. Azocar offered San Francisco State as a host for NorCal conferences for a number of years.
2004
JOE WIRT, Calif. Newspaper Publishers Assn.: CNPA?s Director of Affiliate Relations Joe Wirt is industry?s point-man in managing outreach to California?s college and high school newspapers, including planning of regional journalism training conferences on college campuses. He secures presenters from all newspaper areas (business, advertising, editorial, media law, circulation, production) to speak to student journalists and advisers and coordinates events with college advisers and staff. ?
2003
Don Ray, investigative journalist: Don Ray was multi-media when multi-media wasn't cool. Among other ventures, he has been a film maker, television investigative reporter, newspaper editor, book author and private investigator. He was first to break the story, beginning well over a decade ago, of the initial investigation into pop star Michael Jackson's friendships with pre-adolescent boys. Don Ray continues to be a popular guest lecturer for news organizations and journalism associations. Don packs the room with every workshop he gives for JACC. He also served as emcee at JACC?s first fund-raising event on the Queen Mary.
2002
CHARLES DONALDSON, Santa Monica College (retired): Charles ?Charlie? Donaldson served as JACC?s executive director for four years in the late 1990s. An old-style journalist, Donaldson provided a sense of order and ethics for the organization.
2001
ART CAREY, San Jose City College (retired): Longtime San Jose City College journalism instructor Art Carey never took an official JACC post, but year after year he worked behind the scenes helping run event after event, from regional conferences, to teachers meetings and state conferences. Among his many accomplishments was writing and directing JACC?s promotional video.
2000
GEORGE FLYNN, CSU Fresno: For many years JACC held its annual statewide conference at Fresno State University. George Flynn was the journalism department chair and worked diligently to open university facilities and resources to make JACC?s conferences first rate.
1999
MARK LARSON, Humboldt University: Mark Larson has established a reputation of community college journalism?s strongest friend among the state?s California State University system. A perennial visitor to JACC regional and state conferences ?recruiting some of JACC?s best students to Humboldt?s program-- Larson has served on JACC?s scholarship committee and been a frequent workshop speaker.
1998
MIKE AND SUSAN CORNNER, Pierce and Canyons: Mike and Susan Cornner are two of the most beloved and respected former advisers of California community college journalism. Before stepping away from teaching to move into administration at Pierce College, Mike served as a member of Pierce?s powerhouse team of newspaper advisers. He is a former state president and SoCal president and served three years as JACC?s executive secretary. Susan taught at College of the Canyons, one of the smallest community colleges in the state, but one which dominated JACC competitions for years. The two worked together to write a workbook on Associated Press style and then turned copyright over to JACC.
1997
WIL SIMS, Modesto College (retired): Wil Sims was one of the early advisers in the history of JACC and served the organization in a number of ways, most notably as executive secretary of JACC for 12 years in the 1960s, 1970s and 1990s and as state conference coordinator for three years in the 1990s. During his terms as conference coordinator he tightened conference procedures and slimmed costs, resulting in large financial reserves for JACC that allowed the organization to greatly expand its scholarship program.
1996
WAYNE OVERBECK, CSU Fullerton: For the past 28 years, Dr. Wayne Overbeck faithfully gave annual legal updates at the JACC faculty weekend retreat in Morro Bay. Although a communications law instructor at CSU Fullerton, Overbeck shared with community college advisers and teachers his knowledge about recent legal decisions affecting college media. During the remaining 51 weeks of the year, Overbeck has provided swift, valuable guidance about legal matters through JACC?s faculty e-mail network. Now retired from Fullerton, Overbeck gave his final update at the retreat in January 2008 but remains JACC?s online elder statesman.
1995
JERRY CEPPOS, San Jose Mercury: Jerry Ceppos was managing editor of the San Jose Mercury News when JACC selected him as the first honoree of its new Distinguished Service to Journalism Education Award. In the midst of 1990s statewide budget cuts San Jose area community college programs at DeAnza College and West Valley College. Ceppos led the unsuccessful fight from the industry to reverse the cutbacks to journalism programs, but then initiated new efforts in the community to establish dialog among area high school, community colleges and industry to strengthen programs.
PERMANENT SCHOLARSHIPS (see separate bios): WARREN MACK, DeAnza College; ART MARGOSIAN, CSU Fresno