Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), a local nonprofit, recognizes contributions to educational attainment and economic success in the Inland Empire at its “Toward a Shared Vision Awards Ceremony” on Thursday, October 26th, at the Riverside Convention Center.
RIVERSIDE, CA — GIA’s seventh Toward a Shared Vision Conference is set for Oct. 25-26 at the Riverside Convention Center. During the event, GIA will recognize seven individuals and five groups for their work in driving Inland Empire educational and economic success.
“The Toward a Shared Vision Awards recognize individuals and groups making significant contributions to educational attainment and economic success in the Inland Empire region while embodying core values of equity, transformation, collaboration, innovation, and centering students,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, Interim CEO of GIA.
“We received 25 nominations for individuals and groups throughout the region, all of which are deserving candidates,” said Sakrekoff. “While GIA is coordinating and hosting the awards, the decision on the winners was driven by our local education network. GIA brought together a diverse panel of representatives from local education and community-based organizations who deliberated and selected 12 individuals and groups to be recognized across six categories.”
The awardees are:
For Student-Centered Excellence:
- Group: Children Deserve Success Program, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
- Individual: Dr. Tomás D. Morales, President, California State University, San Bernardino
For Excellence in Regional Transformation:
- Group: Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars
- Individual: Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, California’s 58th Assembly District
For Equity-Focused Excellence:
- Group: College Futures Foundation
- Individual: Dr. Henry D. Shannon, Superintendent/President, Chaffey College
For Excellence in Regional Collaboration:
- Group: Making Hope Happen Foundation
- Individual: Kim McNulty, Vice President of Regional Strategy, OneFuture Coachella Valley
For Excellence in Innovation:
- Group: Office of Pre-College Programs, California State University, San Bernardino
- Individual: Dr. Ivan Peña, Dean of Student Services and Counseling, Crafton Hills College
For Excellence in Regional Leadership:
- Individual: Julie Pehkonen, Chair, Inland Empire/Desert Regional Consortium
- Individual: Dr. Judy D. White, President/Founder, MOSAIC, Retired, 12th Superintendent of Schools for Riverside County
The October 26th, 2:00 pm awards ceremony caps the two-day Toward a Shared Vision Regional Summit. Tickets for the full two-day summit can be purchased for $129. A day-two-only ticket, which also includes the recognition ceremony, can be purchased for $65.
Ticket sales will contribute to GIA’s student scholarship fund. Learn more about the awards and register to attend on GIA’s website: https://inlandempiregia.org/tasv-2023-awards/.
Since 2015, Growing Inland Achievement has been actively supporting educational attainment and economic success in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. To learn more about their mission and initiatives, please visit InlandEmpireGIA.org.
For more information, contact: Jake Poore, [email protected].