CSN Foundation announces 2012 Legacy of Achievement honorees

The College of Southern Nevada Foundation Board of Trustees announced today the 2012 Legacy of Achievement award recipients.

The 2012 honorees are Henderson Municipal Court Judge Diana D. Hampton, Western Zone President for American Residential Services Kenneth D. Goodrich, CSN Fine Arts Department Chair Richard McGee, Ph.D., and Sunbelt Communications Co. Executive Vice President of News Robert "Bob" Stoldal.

Recipients, who will have an endowed scholarship at CSN in each of their names, are selected by trustees based on the overall and lasting impact of their contributions locally, statewide and nationally.

"The impact that these four have had on the community is astounding and worthy of recognition," said Peter O'Neill, CSN Foundation board of trustees chair and corporate director of public relations at R&R Partners. "The Foundation's legacy honorees are true role models in Southern Nevada. The 2012 recipients have demonstrated significant contributions to civic engagement and support of life-long learning."

The honorees will receive their awards at the May 12 Legacy of Achievement Gala at the Rio. The CSN Foundation organizes the gala each year to raise funds for CSN scholarships and programs. The Legacy of Achievement program was initiated in 2007 and the annual gala has raised almost $2 million to fund CSN scholarships and programs.

Judge Diana D. Hampton

Judge Diana Hampton, a CSN alumna, became the first female judge in Henderson following her successful election in 2005. She was subsequently re-elected last year. Handling adult and juvenile offenders, Judge Hampton frequently advocates education as a solution and encourages many to work toward their GED or attend CSN. A living testament to how education can change lives, Judge Hampton has also brought new programs to Henderson Municipal Court to help educate youth about safe driving and the consequences of poor decision-making.

Kenneth D. Goodrich

Kenneth Goodrich, Western Zone president for American Residential Services and Founder of Yes! Air Conditioning & Plumbing, is a Las Vegas native. Throughout his 20-year career, he has made an indelible impact on the Las Vegas Valley through his business acumen and HVAC expertise.

In fall 2009, he donated $100,000 to establish the CSN J. Duncan Goodrich Air Conditioning Technology Endowment, then garnered $50,000 in cash and in-kind donations from community partners and pledged to obtain $150,000 more for the CSN Air Conditioning Technology Program. The CSN J. Duncan Goodrich HVAC Lab is named after his late father -- also a key member of the HVAC community -- in honor of the Goodrich family's significant contribution to education.

Richard McGee

CSN Fine Arts Department Chair Richard "Dick" McGee, Ph.D., enjoyed a significant music career on the Las Vegas Strip, where he played thousands of performances with stars such as Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Burt Bacharach and Johnny Mathis. He began teaching at CSN in 1989 and founded the Nevada Symphonic Wind Ensemble in 1987.

He helped found the Las Vegas Philharmonic and served as associate conductor until 2010. He created the Philharmonic's Youth Concert Series, which, over 12 years, brought more than 150,000 young people to the concert hall to hear live symphonic music. He serves more than 6,000 students per semester in the areas of art, music, dance and theater at CSN.

Robert "Bob" Stoldal

Executive Vice President of News at Sunbelt Communications Co. Bob Stoldal is a legend in the Nevada news industry. An award-winning journalist and broadcast manager who is the former vice president of news at KLAS Television, he was instrumental in the drive to allow public access to judicial and governmental proceedings through television broadcasting.

He was elected to the Nevada Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1998. Nationally, he has helped to launch 24-hour news channels in Tennessee and Virginia and has served on the National Committee on Ethics in Television and as a board member of the National Committee on Civic Journalism.

"Future community leaders will benefit from the educational opportunities afforded by scholarships created in each Legacy of Achievement recipient's name," O'Neill said. "Their impact on Nevada will benefit generations of students for years to come."

The CSN Foundation is a nonprofit organization led by community volunteers. The Foundation is dedicated to providing resources to support students and programs at CSN. Founded in 1982, the CSN Foundation has also provided donations of cash and equipment to build the many classrooms, laboratories, auditoriums and academic buildings at the college's three main campuses and many sites and centers.