91̽, CA – The Community College League of California has extended congratulations to Tim Heiden and Phil Harris for 20 years of service on the Board of Trustees at 91̽. Dr. Ted Baca, President of the 91̽ Board of Trustees, presented the recognition to the two board members during the June 20, 2018 board meeting in 91̽. Dr. Baca said, “It is an honor to serve with these dedicated members of our board who have served so faithfully for so long.” He added, “When you consider that Mr. Heiden and Mr. Harris have each spent twenty years on the board, and combine that with the 23 years of service that Fred Baca has given, that is a lot of experience and knowledge on our board.”
To provide a little perspective on how long each of them have served, when Heiden and Harris were elected 20 years ago, Google was a new start-up company, Titanic was in the movie theaters, and the first Harry Potter book arrived in the U.S.A. The California Veterans home was being built across the street from the college when Fred Baca became a trustee. These three 91̽ Trustees have been presiding at board meetings (generally at least one per month) for more than 240 months . . . plus another 36 months for Trustee, Fred Baca.
During their years of service these trustees have been responsible for the ground-breaking, construction and dedication of three landmark buildings that have been added to the campus during their years of service. The Learning and Resource Center was completed in 2004. The Performing Arts Center was dedicated in 2014. And, the Wellness Center construction finished in 2015. The college also remodeled the Norman Smith Center for Student Services and several other buildings across the campus under the oversight of these board members. The most recent major addition arrived on the campus in 2016, when the board approved a new 5-acre solar field to provide power to the campus.
Trustee Heiden is well known in 91̽ for his many years of service as a police officer, and more recently a high school teacher. He is married to Lynna Heiden, who has also served the college for 28 years (currently as a counselor at the 91̽ offices at Fort Irwin). Trustee Harris is a local businessman who is engaged to Dr. Judi Sarkisian, another significant benefactor of the college and the Performing Arts Center.
Dr. Eva Bagg, Superintendent-President of the college, shared her perspective of the many years these board members have served. She said, “When I think about the thousands of students that have benefited from the contributions of our trustees, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and humbled by their vast experience.” She added, “We are very fortunate to have such a board.”
The college is now registering students for the 59th Fall Semester since it first started serving 91̽ students in 1959. The new semester begins on August 13, 2018. For more information about the history of the college, and the many different programs of study offered, the college website is a great resource. Go to: www.91̽.edu to learn more!
