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Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Public information officer: Joan Aschim, (541) 463-5591, aschimj@lanecc.edu
Source: Kathy Thomas, director of annual giving, LCC Foundation, 463-5538
For release October 18, 2005
Lane's Foundation names 2005 Distinguished Alumni
EUGENE - The Lane Community College Foundation has named the 2005 Distinguished Alumni award winners. The awards go to alumnus who completed at least 30 credit hours at Lane or earned an associate's degree. Nominees have demonstrated achievement in their chosen profession, service to the community, or outstanding contribution to the college. The awards will be presented at the Foundation's annual Harvest Dinner on Friday, October 28.
The 2005 Lane Community College Distinguished Alumni:
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Jeanne Benson of Eugene attended Lane Community College in the late 1960s. She later earned a bachelor of science degree in community service and public affairs from the University of Oregon in 1976. She spent 20 years with Pearl Buck Center, five years as a parent volunteer, and 15 years as a case development specialist. She has served on a wide variety of governing boards and task forces such as the Metropolitan Affordable Housing Board, and recently retired as executive director of Catholic Community Services after 15 years of service. Benson supervised Lane interns at both Pearl Buck Center and Catholic Community Services.
LuAnne Boettiger of Springfield earned her associate degree in science of nursing from Lane Community College in 1976. She later attended Oregon Health Sciences University, earning a bachelor of science in nursing in 1986 and a master's in nursing in 1992. She now works at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center as the director of staff development. In 2005, Boettiger began working as an adjunct professor for Northwest Christian College. In her job at McKenzie-Willamette she facilitates clinical internships for many Lane students. She served as a member of Lane's nursing advisory committee for 15 years, 10 years as chair. She volunteers her time with the Oregon High School Equestrians.
Jerry Smith of Springfield served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970 before coming to Lane Community College. He earned an associate of science degree in criminal justice from Lane in 1972. While attending school he worked as a police officer with the City of Springfield. After eight months as a police officer in Bend, Smith returned to Springfield. He was promoted to sergeant in 1975, and promoted to captain in 1987. He has served as Springfield's chief of police since 1999. He earned a bachelor of science in public administration and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Oregon. He is a graduate of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Chief Smith teaches criminal justice courses at Lane, and has chaired the college's criminal justice advisory committee.
Timothy Wahlberg of McMinnville entered the aviation field in 1963, when he served in Vietnam in the U.S. Army as a helicopter technician and gunner. After returning from Vietnam, Wahlberg enrolled at Lane Community College, earning an associate of science degree and airframe and powerplant license in 1969. He started work at Evergreen Helicopter immediately after college, and has progressed from mechanic to his current position as the president of Evergreen International Aviation, Inc., a company with an annual budget of $750 million and 4,500 employees worldwide. Wahlberg has chaired Lane's aviation advisory committee. He has made many Evergreen Aviation resources available to the Lane aviation programs; the company offers internships and has hired many Lane aviation program graduates.
Lane is recognized as one of the top community colleges in the country by the League for Innovation in the Community College. Lane is one of only 20 board member colleges in the 700-member association, the only League college in Oregon, and one of only 12 Vanguard Learning Colleges designated by the League to recognize excellence.
Nominations are open for the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Awards. Applications are available at http://2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu/foundation/distalumni.htm or by calling the Foundation office at (541) 463-5135. Nominations must be returned to the Foundation by May 1, 2006.###
