Glover, Bening headline new cast of alumni

The SF State Alumni Association inducted eight new members into the Alumni Hall of Fame to honor their achievements, last Thursday at the Seven Hills Conference Center.

So far, the SF State Alumni Association has inducted 34 members into the Alumni Hall of Fame.

This year's theme is the Year of the Alumni, which is a tribute to students who have attended California State Universities, according to Dr. Bernie Goldstein, SF State Alumni Association president and biology professor.

Among the inductees was motion picture actor Danny Glover, who graduated from SF State in 1971, and majored in political science. Glover is best known for roles in films such as "The Color Purple" and "Lethal Weapon."

Glover's father, James Glover accepted the award for his son. He said his son used his knowledge of politics to help him to become a better actor.

"I believe Danny was a political science major, but he sure didn't wind up in politics," Glover said.

The 1995 Alumna of the year and new Hall of Fame member, actress Annette Bening, was unable to attend the ceremony.

Bening, who starred in the film "The American President," graduated from SF State in 1980 and majored in theater arts.

Dr. Samuel Elkind, Bening's theater arts professor at SF State, accepted the award for the actress.

"I remember her as hard-working, serious and a fireball," said Elkind, who also directed Bening in the 1979 SF State production of "Light up the Sky." "She would devote hours to study. She also is a role model for young actresses, a remarkable talent and proud of her roots in the Bay area," he said.

Other inductees include:

*Karen Johnson-Brennan (bachelor's in nursing, 1967) - An associate director of the School of Nursing at SF State.

* Lawrence Chang (bachelor's in mathematics, 1968) - He was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame. Accepting for him was Newman Fisher, the chair of SF State's mathematics department.

Chang became totally blind at the age of 6 due to cancer. This did not stop him from attaining his dreams as he emigrated from Vietnam at the age of 18 to pursue his education.

Chang died of cancer at the age of 39. The memory of Chang lives on however, as SF State established a memorial scholarship in his name that honors his life and accomplishments.

*Sonia Melara (bachelor's in English, 1975, and masters of social work, 1978)- She is executive director of the Commission on the Status of Women, founder of the Hispanic Yellow Pages and in 1974 co-founded "La Casa de las Madres." This was the first shelter for victims of domestic violence in California.

In 1980 President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the National Advisory Commission on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee.

*Joseph E. Marshall Jr. (master's in educational administration, 1974) - He co-founded the Omega Boys' Club in 1974 and serves as the club's executive director. He is also the recipient of the 1994 MacArthur Foundation Genius Award and the 1994 Essence Award. Marshall came to SF State as a graduate student.

*Ralf Hotchkiss (attended in late 1980s) - He is the director of SF State's Wheel Mobility Center which is part of the engineering school.

Hotchkiss, a wheelchair rider himself, is another recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Genius Award and the 1995 Chrysler Award for Innovation and Design.

Acknowledged internationally, the Whirlwind Network is recognized for its work in developing wheelchairs for people with disabilities in underdeveloped countries.

*Violet B. Robinson (bachelor's in elementary education, 1953, and master's in education administration, 1958)- She is a professor emerita of elementary education at SF State and a former president of the California Kindergarten Association.

[ Golden Gater Online February 29, 1996 ]

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