On Feb. 22, Grossmont- Cuyamaca Community College District leaders and partners were honored by the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce at the 113th Annual East County Honors event.
The event recognized outstanding East County businesses and community leaders, including Sally Cox, Javier Ayala, and The Water Conservation Garden. Honorees were awarded due to excellent community involvement, consistently working with, and contributing to, the East County Chamber, and demonstrating a strong sense of ethics and personal integrity.
“The district is proud to have leaders and partners in the East County community who sup¬port and collaborate with each other on such a grand scale,” said Chancellor Lynn Ceresino Neault in a press release. “Our awardees truly embody our commitment to supporting East County students, organizations, businesses, and community groups.”
Sally Cox, the CEO at the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges, which distributed more than $400,000 in scholarships each year was honored with the Leadership East County award for demonstrating community leadership that resulted in a substantial positive impact, and for working to better serve the community through public service, projects, or volunteerism.
Dr. Javier Ayla serves as a dean at Grossmont College, leading career technical and academic, instructional, credit and non-credit programs, as well as student support services. Ayala was presented with the Business & Education Person of the Year for actively working to develop improved understanding and respect between the business and education communities. Additionally, he serves on the boards of the Lemon Grove School District and the East County Chamber.
The Water Conservation Garden earned Business of the Year Award, Environmental Services. The Water Conservation Garden has had a long-standing partnership with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, the Helix and Otay Water Districts, as well as the Sweetwater Authority, the San Diego County Water Authority, and the city of San Diego. The Garden was honored due to their outstanding customer service, positive reputation in the community, and for consistently delivering top quality educational and environmental services. For over 25 years, The Water Conservation Garden has been educating and inspiring students and community members in East County and beyond, through excellent exhibits and programs that promote water conservation and the sustainable use of related natural resources.
