FACETIME AUGUST 2013 - 1970s and Earlier
Alumnus and volunteer Sam
Borozan, ’57 BS & ’61 MS, sent us a photo (above) of a reunion he had with fellow
Lumberjacks, Rex Mirich, ’66 BS, Owen DeJanovich, ’65 BS & ’69 MAED,
and Theodore Sorich, ’60 BS & ’64
MAED.
Vice-president of Helios Education Foundation and program director
for Arizona Transition Years, Dr. Jo
Anne Vasquez, ’65 BS & ’68 MAED (photo above), was recognized with the National
Science Board’s 2013 Public Service Award.
She became the first K-12 educator to receive this honor. Jo Anne is
considered one of the country’s foremost experts on science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) curriculum. She has authored multiple science textbooks and
instructional books, and has received the Robert H. Carlton Award, which is the
highest honor for science education.
Dr. Jim Summerton, ’66 BS (photo above), is developing a drug to treat
Alzheimer’s disease. He recently founded Brain Tools, LLC. which is dedicated to
completing testing on Methane Sulfonyl Flouride (MSF), a drug which has the
potential to improve patients’ memories. MSF promises to be more effective at improving
memory with less side effects than current Alzheimer’s drugs. To learn more
about MSF and its effect on Alzheimer’s visit https://brain-tools.com.
Jim received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Arizona School of
Medicine. He possesses decades of experience studying gene-modulating agents.
Photo Credit: Daniel Dullum/Florence Reminder
Richard Montaño, ’67
MS (pictured above), received a framed certificate signed by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for
military service during the Korean War. The award was presented at the
Florence, Ariz., Army National Guard facility to coincide with the 60th
anniversary of the war’s ending. Richard put his G.I. benefits to use to attend
NAU and later taught for the Florence School District for 31 years.
"Squiggles" by Vija Hamilton
Artist Vija Hamilton,
’69 MM, returned to Williston, N.D., to display her work at the James Memorial Art Center in
June. Vija has a long history in the region, as her family fled the Communist
invasion of Eastern Europe more than 60 years ago to find asylum as refugees in
Williston. A local church helped the
family get established in their new community, and Vija began her career in
art. A former art instructor, Vija is a multi-disciplined artist, specializing
in drawing, painting, printmaking and fine art miniatures.
The Construction Management Department of NAU honored Mark Minter, ’75 BS (pictured above), with the
Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award. Mark was selected based on his numerous
contributions to the university, helping to develop curriculum, connect
students and employers through internships, develop funding for extra-curricular
activities and serve on faculty interview committees.
Richard Torres, ’77
MAED, was recognized for his years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps
during the 44th Annual Fiesta Amistad in Round Rock, Texas. He
served in Vietnam and was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Vietnam
Commendation. Richard retired from St. Joseph Hospital in Houston in 2003 and
moved to Round Rock in 2004.
On his travels across the nation, John Clark, ’77 BSED & 81 MED (photo above), stopped at the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. to pay respect to his fallen compatriots. John
writes, “The photo in my hand is of SSG Francis Brockman (Rusty) who was killed
in action on May 25, 1972. He and I
looked and acted like brothers. I carried his photo with me to leave at the
Wall. At the end of the Memorial Day
service, Major General Lee Seo Young came up to me and asked if he could have
the honor of having his photograph taken with me. I asked him if he would honor my friend and
place his photo below his name and that he did.
He gave me his card and asked me to get back to him with someday
soon. I will.”