College Names Faculty, Staff Members of Year

Orange Coast College marine science instructor Tom S. Garrison has been named Faculty Member of the Year for 1996-97.

Garrison chairs the marine science department, the largest community college program of its kind in the nation.

Earlier this month, his faculty colleagues chose Garrison over eight other nominees selected by students and teachers.

Fellow staff members informed Garrison that he had won during a recent morning lecture before 250 students, and the students gave the instructor a standing ovation.

“I couldn’t talk,” said Garrison, 55. “I finally croaked out, ‘Well, that’s it for today.’ ”

Garrison, a resident of Newport Beach, started teaching at the college in 1969. He teaches survey and laboratory sections and has written “Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science,” a text used nationwide.

The seventh annual award is sponsored by the college’s Academic Senate.

A related award this year went to Kahn Raddavong, the college’s Classified Staff Member of the Year.

Raddavong, 48, of Costa Mesa, is a senior accounting clerk at the college and was selected by his colleagues for the award. He began working for the campus seven years ago and is said to put in 10- and 11-hour days.

“It’s a privilege to work,” the native of Laos said. “In the culture in which I was raised, I was taught that you always arrive at work before your boss, and you leave for home only after the boss has left.”

Raddavong and Garrison will be honored at a special ceremony April 15 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the college’s Captain’s Table Restaurant.