Jordano to be Honored at Commencement
Gerd Jordano, longtime Santa Barbara civic leader, will receive the Westmont Medal during the college’s graduation ceremonies, Saturday, May 6, at 10 a.m. on Russell Carr Field. It will also be Stan D. Gaede’s last commencement as college president.
The Westmont Medal is given each year to recognize individuals in our community whose lives embody the very principles associated with the Christian character of the college: integrity, service, compassion, responsibility, faithfulness, discipline and generosity.
Gerd was a founder of the Friends of Westmont in 1994. She is also a charter member of the Westmont Foundation, which she chaired for two years. Most recently she chaired the wildly successful 2006 President’s Breakfast, which featured author David McCullough.
President Gaede will be this year’s commencement speaker. His speech is titled “Every Time I Think of You.” Last October, Gaede announced that he would leave Westmont at the end of the academic year. Gaede and his wife, Judy, also have a daughter, Kirsten, graduating in the ceremony.
Bob Kuntz, Westmont registrar, says 341 students will be participating in the graduation ceremonies. Commencement is open to the public, but seating and parking are limited. Those planning to attend are urged to arrive early. Off-site parking is available at Santa Barbara City College with free shuttle service to Westmont provided continuously between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Past recipients of the Westmont Medal include Ardis Higgins, Lord Paul and Lady Leslie Ridley Tree, Larry Crandell, Penny Jenkins, Dr. Ramon Vidauri of Ensenada, Mexico, Anita Mackey, Stewart and Katherine Abercrombie, Betty Rosness, Peter MacDougall and David Spainhour.
The Westmont Medal is just one of many honors Gerd has received over the years for her energetic and gracious service to the Santa Barbara community. In 1995, she and her husband, Peter, accepted the Santa Barbara News-Press Lifetime Achievement award. The Jordanos have been roasted by the Arthritis Foundation and recognized as Alumni Couple of the Year by Santa Barbara High School. Gerd was chosen to be a torchbearer for the Santa Barbara stretch of the 1996 Olympic torch relay. When he was a California state senator, Jack O'Connell selected her as Woman of the Year.
Gerd has devoted much of her time to community service. For 10 years, she served on the Cottage Hospital board and chaired the nursing committee for seven years. She has also been a board member for the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation, Hospice of Santa Barbara and recently joined the board of Child Abuse Listening and Mediation (CALM) which provides services for children suffering from child abuse, child sexual abuse and incest. She has planned events for the Santa Barbara Zoo, the American Heart Association and the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. She belongs to the Montecito Association and the Channel City Club. Each year, Gerd and Peter sponsor the Golden Eagle Awards Banquet to honor the top scholar-athlete in each varsity sport at Westmont.
For more commencement information, visit www.westmont.edu/commencement or call (805) 565-7177. For directions to campus, please visit the college Web site at www.westmont.edu.