Dean of Institutional Research Peter Geltner has won the 2002 Practitioner Recognition Award from the National Council for Research and Planning, an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges. The award goes to an individual who has made a significant contribution in the application of research and planning to institutional decision making.

Two SMC dance professors will perform this weekend in Spirit Dances 6: Inspired by Isadora at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica. Linda Gold and Roberta Wolin-Manker, currently teaching at SMC, will be in the concert, conceived and directed by Marion Scott, a former dance mentor teacher at the college.

Adjunct cinema professor Sheila Laffey was a speaker recently at the Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival in Leavenworth, Wash., where she also showed her new short film, Ballona Wetlands - The Ongoing Struggle.

Allison Sandera, a Women's Studies major, is the new SMC Student Trustee for 2002-03, and Luis Barrera, a broadcasting and film major, has been elected president of the Associated Students for 2002-03. Sandera, who succeeds Eric M. Yoshida, began her term June 1, and Barrera, who succeeds Jeff Gordon, will begin his term July 1.

Barbara Siegel, CalWORKs secretary, received an "Unsung Heroes" award June 1 from the California School Employees Association. She was one of just 10 employees from school districts and community colleges throughout Southern California -- and the only community college representative -- to receive the award.