Names of Note: Stan State president adds role. High school grads get free pizza
Ellen Junn, president of California State University, Stanislaus, has been appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
The commission shares resources across 15 states and a few U.S. territories to enhance learning at the college level. Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Junn to the post, which requires State Senate approval and has no pay.
Junn has led Stan State since 2016. She has a doctorate in cognitive and developmental psychology from Princeton University and has been an administrator at CSU campuses in Dominguez Hills, San Jose and Fresno.
School lunch nonprofit pivots
Interfaith Ministries of Modesto received 350 breakfast and lunch items from an Atlanta-based nonprofit that normally devotes itself to paying off school cafeteria debts.
The coronavirus pandemic prompted All for Lunch Inc. to shift donations to support food banks dealing with increased demand, founder Alessandra Ferrara-Miller said in an email. Interfaith Ministries is the first recipient in California.
All for Lunch will eventually return to its mission of paying off delinquent meal accounts and funding them in advance for children in need. Donors can specify the school they would like to help.
“ I hope we can potentially grow the Modesto donor base to continue to support those living in food insecurity throughout the community moving forward,” Ferrara-Miller said.
Pizza Hut has gifts for grads
Pizza Hut plans to give up to 500,000 medium, one-topping pies to students graduating from high school this spring.
They can get them by signing up for the Hut Rewards program at www.pizzahut.com and obtaining a coupon good through June 4. Pizza Hut has several locations in and near Stanislaus County.
The company said it launched the promotion because students are missing out on normal graduation celebrations due to the pandemic.
It is partnering with Dairy Management Inc., a national group promoting the industry. Mozzarella cheese for pizza is one of the top products from the San Joaquin Valley’s portion of that industry.
And finally ...
Gov. Newsom appointed Tina Brazil of Turlock to the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. The nine-member panel oversees planning for this type of activity around the state.
Brazil has been a dispatcher at the California Highway Patrol since 1997. She is president of the CHP-Public Safety Dispatchers Association and senior vice president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association.
The position requires Senate confirmation and pays $100 per meeting day.
Names of Note recognizes people and organizations for their contribution to their communities. Submit items to jholland@modbee.com.
