海角社区

President's Dinner

by Kim Lamb Gregory

Farm-To-Table Feast and Innovative Projects

Student and faculty research displays of bees, robots, moon jellies, dancers, and an electric pickle wowed guests who attended the 19th Annual President鈥檚 Dinner held October 5 and hosted by the 海角社区 Channel Islands Foundation and Mechanics Bank. This year鈥檚 dinner, held under the stars at the South Quad of the campus, celebrated the area鈥檚 agricultural bounty with a custom three-course farm-to-table聽 dinner prepared by 海角社区CI鈥檚 award-winning chefs.

Photo Caption Clockwise: Neil Kreisel accepting the Lagomarsino Award from President Beck; Nursing students show guests what it would be like for a person living with glaucoma by using a virtual reality simulation program; Haas Automation guests; SAGE Publishing guests; Mechanics Bank guests.

Lagomarsino Award Winner

A highlight of the 19th Annual President鈥檚 Dinner held on October 5 was the presentation of the 2019 Robert J. Lagomarsino award to former Wall Street executive turned Santa Barbara radio host Neil Kreisel.

The award, named in honor of the Honorable Robert J. Lagomarsino, a former United States congressman and state senator who is also a longtime supporter of the University, is presented to an individual who or organization which has contributed to and supported 海角社区CI.

Kreisel and his wife of almost 50 years, Beryl, moved to Santa Barbara from New York 21 years ago, after Neil retired from a successful career on Wall Street and in real estate. Kreisel then taught finance at Santa Barbara City College and now hosts two radio shows on KZSB AM 1290 in Santa Barbara.

When presenting the award, President Erika D. Beck praised Kreisel鈥檚 advocacy, which has ranged from financial support to traveling to the state capital with Beck to stress the importance of 海角社区CI to state legislators.

When accepting the award, Kreisel gave numerous reasons why he supports 海角社区CI including its outstanding faculty, affordability, interdepartmental collaboration, emphasis on environmental stewardship, small class size, and the peer mentorship program.

鈥淢ost of these students who are first generation may have no idea what the word 鈥榤atriculation鈥� means. They can鈥檛 easily read a course catalog, and don鈥檛 know how or are afraid to ask for help,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ach mentor is assigned 10 to 12 mentees. Last semester 40 mentors changed the lives of over 436 mentees. I call that great leverage.鈥�

President's Dinner Sponsors

Title SponsorDiamond SponsorGold Sponsor

Mechanics Bank

Gene Haas Foundation

Sage Publishing

搁别肠别辫迟颈辞苍听厂辫辞苍蝉辞谤厂颈濒惫别谤听厂辫辞苍蝉辞谤蝉罢补产濒别听厂辫辞苍蝉辞谤蝉

Montecito Bank & Trust

  • Harrison Industries
  • Pacific Western Bank
  • Union Bank
  • Betsy Blanchard Chess
  • Esther & Tom Wachtell
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank
  • Linda Dullam
叠谤辞苍锄别听厂辫辞苍蝉辞谤蝉颁辞辫辫别谤听厂辫辞苍蝉辞谤蝉
  • Aera Energy
  • Canteen of Coastal California
  • Elise & Bill Kearney
  • Follett Higher Education Group
  • Leavens Ranches
  • Limoneira
  • Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC
  • Ventura County Community Foundation
  • Ventura County Credit Union
  • Airborne Technologies
  • Arnold LaRochelle Mathews
    VanConas & Zirbel LLP
  • California Resources Corporation
  • Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP
  • Gold Coast Health Plan
  • Mission Linen Supply Inc.
  • Parkstone Companies
  • Ventura Rental Party & Events

Return to the Table of Contents
漏 Fall 2019 / Volume 24 / Number 2 / Biannual

Back to Top 鈫�