Distinguished Teachers honored

Professor Dianna Chiabotti of Child and Family Studies and Diagnostic Learning Services Coordinator professor Rebecca Scott were named Napa Valley College's McPherson Distinguished Teachers for 2007. They were honored at a luncheon May 11.

The awards program was established by Dr. Harry McPherson, founding president of Napa Valley College, with the first awards given in 1987 to recognize excellence in teaching.

Chiabotti earned her B.S. from UC Davis and her M.S. from California State University, Hayward. She started at Napa Valley College in 1995 and has been teaching full time since 2001. Professor Chiabotti serves on the Child Care Planning Council of Napa and served as the early literacy specialist for a community project. She coordinates the grant-funded California Early Childhood mentor program and, this spring, became interim director of the Child Development Center and is paving the way for the center's integration with the Child and Family Studies program in the fall. For the past two years, she has served as academic senate president and served on many program review and evaluation committees.

Scott earned her B.A. and M.A. from Western State College in Colorado. She has 25 years of experience in the field of education, 19 in the classroom. She has worked at Napa Valley College since 1999. In 2003, Scott became director for Title III, a federal grant that provides interventions for under-prepared and under-served populations of students. She was grant coordinator this spring, and served as interim dean of instruction. Her leadership was noted in developing and overseeing the English learning communities, devoted to keeping students in college. She is active both in the college, serving on college committees and in the Napa community./Register

Auto Tech Scholarships awarded

A Voice Found Inc., a nonprofit career counseling and scholarship service, awarded the 2007 Clem McCorkel Automotive Technology Scholarships, which honor men with careers in the automotive industry and who served as mentors to young men both professionally and athletically. This year's award winners are Alvaro Camacho from American Canyon, attending Napa Valley College; Favian Flores, also from American Canyon, attending Wyotech; Alejandro Ruiz from Calistoga High School; and Antonio Zepeda from St. Helena High School./Register

Napan a University of Portland grad

Matthew Knister of Napa recently graduated from the University of Portland with a bachelor's degree in accounting. University President Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., conferred 684 bachelors and 192 masters degrees during the commencement exercises held May 6 in the Earle A. and Virginia H. Chiles Center on the University of Portland Campus./Register