Left to Right: Ron Werft and Dhruv Pandya received awards at the President's Dinner.
By Kim Lamb Gregory
海角社区 Channel Islands鈥 community partners and alumni are fundamental to the University鈥檚 ongoing success, with alumni serving as role models and community partners providing internships, mentorships and career opportunities for students.
To show the University鈥檚 appreciation, President Richard Yao recognized Cottage Health and Computer Science alumnus, Dhruv Pandya, at the annual President鈥檚 Dinner, held in September at the Commemorative Air Force SoCal Event Hangar in Camarillo.
The event, which was sponsored by the 海角社区 Channel Islands Foundation and Premier America Credit Union, was themed 鈥淪oaring to New Heights.鈥
During an awards ceremony that followed a student research showcase and dinner, President Yao presented Pandya with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award and Cottage Health with the prestigious Robert J. Lagomarsino Award.
鈥淐ottage Health鈥檚 dedication to fostering hands-on experiences and supporting our students, faculty, and academic programs has not only enriched many educational journeys but has also empowered our students to thrive and succeed in their professional endeavors," President Yao said.
Two hundred of 海角社区CI鈥檚 1,225 graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing came through the partnership with Cottage Health, which is almost 20 years old.
鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to 海角社区 Channel Islands for this recognition,鈥 said Cottage Health President & CEO Ron Werft. 鈥淭he nationwide shortage of registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in particular, has been a persistent challenge 鈥 one that has become even more critical in today鈥檚 healthcare landscape. It takes strong partnerships to address this challenge, organizations working together to find new and better solutions.鈥
It鈥檚 been a remarkable journey for Pandya, who arrived on the 海角社区CI campus 10 years ago from his native India with his suitcase and $1,500 in his pocket.
After graduating in 2017 with a Master鈥檚 in Computer Science, Pandya went on to land a job in cybersecurity at J.D. Power and Associates after setting up shop in a local Starbucks with a sign on his laptop that read: 鈥淟ooking for jobs in cybersecurity.鈥
It worked, and now Pandya is Director of Information Security at Wistia, as well as a volunteer for numerous nonprofits, an archer, CrossFit athlete, and published poet. Dhruv was honored with the "40 Under 40" upcoming leaders award in 2022 by the Pacific Coast Business Times.
鈥淚 was very humbled and excited to learn I was going to get this award,鈥 Pandya said. 鈥淭his University has just given me so much. To have a place like 海角社区CI means a lot for an immigrant who cannot go home easily.鈥
Pandya has given much in return to his new home. His nomination letter from Director of Career Development and Alumni Engagement Amanda Carpenter read, in part:
鈥淒hruv is a strong advocate for kindness and compassion, believing in the power of individual acts of kindness to make the world a better place.鈥