More than 500 members of the faculty, staff, alumni, administration and student leadership came to bid a fond farewell to retiring superintendent/president John Davitt at the Verdugo Gym Thursday.
“It is a day of celebration and thank you’s,” said Steve White, Vice President of Instructional Service and master of ceremonies at the retirement party. “With John’s leadership … and his blood, sweat and tears, we now have an impressive college.”
The Governance Rules! band, composed of faculty members, played rock n’ roll music while guests had a light lunch prepared by the culinary arts department.
Several representatives from different sectors of the college gave heartwarming speeches and presented Davitt with commemorative postage stamps that feature the retiring president’s portrait and a $5,000 gift certificate for a vacation of his choice.
A video presentation was also shown as a tribute to Davitt.
In his tearful speech, Davitt thanked the entire campus community for “38 wonderful years. Looking back, I can only remember the good times,” he said. “I’m confident that you are all going to keep this college unique.”