ACTOR LEVAR BURTON TO SPEAK
AT HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE GALA
THREE AREA BUSINESSPEOPLE
TO BE INDUCTED
INTO HCC ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
NOV. 21 AT 7 P. M.
BRIDGEPORT - LeVar Burton, award-winning actor,
director, producer and author, will be the guest speaker at the Housatonic
Community College Foundation’s “Alumni Hall of Fame” Gala
on Saturday evening, Nov. 21, at the new Events Center in HCC’s
Beacon Hall.
Burton is well known for his starring role in the miniseries Roots;
as long-time host of the highly acclaimed PBS children’s series Reading
Rainbow; and as co-star of the Emmy award-winning television series Star
Trek: The Next Generation. In addition to his stage
and screen career, Burton is a renowned literacy advocate who speaks
on the subject worldwide.
"I am always moved by the power of the written word in our lives, he said. “The
collective hopes, dreams and aspirations of our human family are contained
in the great literature of the world, and I believe it is everyone's birthright
to be able to read and enjoy that legacy," he said.
The
black-tie event will include the induction of three HCC alumni into the College’s
newly formed Alumni Hall of Fame: Mary Ann Vlahac of Stratford, Charlene “Charlie” Santoro,
CPA, of Seymour, and John L. Evanich, CPA, of Wallingford. These alumni
were selected because how they applied the education they received at HCC to
distinguish themselves in their careers and in the realm of community service. Faculty,
family, friends and community representatives will be on hand to honor them
for their outstanding achievements.
With
the importance of education the theme of the night, the Gala is intended
to raise funds to support scholarships awarded by the Foundation to
eligible HCC students. This year, due to the difficult economy and the decline in
college loans granted by traditional lenders, it is estimated that student
need will more than double that of last year, reaching the $1.5 million level.
The
Gala is presented by People’s United Bank and the Connecticut
Post;
and is sponsored by businesses and individuals including The Bannow
Larson Foundation, Bigelow Tea Company and Pequonnock River Partners. Additional
sponsorship opportunities and event tickets are available by contacting
Maureen Dowdle, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 203- 332-5078
or mdowdle@hcc.commnet.edu .
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu