15744 Golden West Street  *  Huntington Beach,  CA  *  92647-2748
714/895-8367   *   714/895-8269 fax   *   http://www.gwc.cccd.edu
_________________________________________________________________
                                           Copy by Marc S. Posner
                                         714/892-7711, ext. 55057
                                                 mposner@cccd.edu
                                                 November 8, 1999
                                                   Release: 99-76

TUSTIN RESIDENT GINA DAMERON SELECTED AS
HOMECOMING QUEEN AT GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE



Gina B. Dameron, an honor student with a 4.0 grade-point average,
has been selected as Golden West College’s 1999-2000 homecoming
queen. Dameron is a resident of Tustin.

A 1987 graduate of David Starr Jordan High School in Long Beach,
Dameron already holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long
Beach.

She returned to college as a cosmetology major.

“I investigated several programs and schools for this trade and
found that Golden West had an outstanding reputation and I wanted
to be a part of that,” she said. “I plan to pursue a successful
career in this field.”

Dameron is a member of GWC’s Cosmetology Club and an alumna
member of the Alpha Phi Sorority. She is a make-up artist and
skin care consultant and enjoys cardio kickboxing, rollerblading
and billiards.

She was selected by a panel of judges comprised of Golden West
College students, faculty and staff members following candidate
interviews last week. Her selection was kept a secret until
Saturday’s homecoming football game, which the Rustlers lost to
Riverside, 21-19. The Rustlers tallied two late touchdowns, but
were unable to score on a two-point conversion, which would have
sent the game to overtime.

Dameron is one of six women who were selected as princesses and
competed for the title of homecoming queen.

The other women are: Marcela Aguilar, of Anaheim; Renee De Ann
Araujo, of Huntington Beach; Christina Mata, of Midway City;
Michelle Elizabeth Pitts, of Huntington Beach; and Jennifer Reed,
of Huntington Beach.

All six members of the Homecoming court receive scholarships as
part of the honor — with the queen awarded $100 and the
princesses each receiving $25.

1999-2000 Homecoming Court:

Marcela Aguilar


Aguilar, an Anaheim resident, is a television production major
who graduated from Yucca Valley High in 1999. She plans to
transfer to Cal State Fullerton to complete her studies.

A self-described dare devil, Aguilar enjoys sign language,
singing, dancing, playing volleyball and traveling. She is the
president of the college’s Culture and Television Productions
clubs.

Renee De Ann Araujo


Araujo, a Huntington Beach resident, is a 1999 graduate of
Huntington Beach High School. She is a health science major who
plans to complete her bachelor’s degree at Cal State Long Beach.
Araujo said she selected GWC because it “is a school close to
home that will help me achieve my goals. It is a beautiful campus
with a variety of people and cultures.”

She has been dancing for a decade, loves to snowboard and surf,
and enjoys doing volunteer work in Huntington Beach. Currently
she is one of GWC’s student ambassadors. Araujo was named Miss
Congeniality at the Miss Dance/Drill Team California Pageant
earlier this year.

Christina Mata


Mata, a resident of Midway City, is a recording arts major who
graduated from Westminster High School in June. She plans to
complete her bachelor’s degree in recording arts at UCLA when she
graduates from GWC.

“I chose to attend Golden West College because my mother came
here and I wanted to get my general education (completed) before
going to UCLA,” she said. Her hobbies include playing the flute
and being part of a symphony band. In high school, she was given
the director’s award and the most improved band member award.

Michelle Elizabeth Pitts


Pitts, a resident of Huntington Beach, is a 1999 graduate of
Calvary Chapel High School. She is a psychology major who plans
to transfer to Arizona State University for her bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in psychology. Pitts is a member of GWC’s
women’s basketball team and was selected as a first-team all
Olympic League, a second-team All County, and a second-team All
State member. She also enjoys surfing, ice skating and working
with the junior high school ministry at her church.

“Golden West has a wonderful basketball program,” she said of her
decision to attend the Huntington Beach college. “Everyone was
telling me how good all the teachers are here.”

Jennifer Reed


Reed, a Huntington Beach resident, is a biology major who
graduated from Valley Vista High School in 1997. She plans to
transfer to UCLA next fall to complete work on her bachelor’s
degree before going on to medical school.

“I originally selected Golden West because it is close to my home
and inexpensive,” she said. “The reason that I continue to select
GWC is because I have here the the best teachers that I have ever
had. they are always available and willing to help.”

Reed is a member of GWC’s Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, the
Bolsa Chica Land Trust and a student-employee of Golden West’s
Biology Department and the college’s Science Museum.

About Golden West College:

The “Oceans of Opportunity” at Golden West College include
approximately 60 career programs and 50 university-transfer
options for students starting work on their bachelor’s degrees.

Golden West College recently implemented an innovative 16-week
semester, which helped produce a 6% increase in student
enrollment at the Huntington Beach college.

Open enrollment and registration for Golden West College’s
largest-ever Winter Intersession is under way. The college is
also accepting applications for its Spring 2000 semester.

Classes at Golden West College cost just $11 per unit, the lowest
enrollment fee of any college system in California. In addition,
the college issues more than $10 million in financial aid each
year.

Golden West College is located at 15744 Golden West Street in
Huntington Beach, nestled between Edinger and McFadden avenues
and Golden West and Gothard streets — just off the San Diego
(405) Freeway and minutes from Huntington Beach’s picturesque
shoreline.

Information about Golden West College is available by calling
(714) 892-7711, visiting http://www.gwc.cccd.edu, or sending
e-mail to info@gwc.cccd.edu.

                             —GWC—

_________________________________________________________________
 One of the Coast Community Colleges serving Costa Mesa, Fountain
   Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Midway City, Newport
                Beach, Seal Beach and Westminster
Kenneth D. Yglesias, Ed.D, President * Board of Trustees: Paul G.
   Berger; George E. Brown; Walter G. Howald; Jerry Patterson;
Armando Ruiz; Student Trustee * William M. Vega, Ed.D, Chancellor
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