Sonia Dokes

For Sonia Dokes - a mother of three and Las Positas College student - the phrase "once a criminal, always a criminal" was never true.

During her 16 months stay in jail, Sonia turned her imprisonment into a life-changing experience that would kick-start an inspiring journey of redemption, and make her the perfect recipient of the 2011 League of Woman Voters of Livermore Amador Valley transfer scholarship.

It was in jail where Sonia awoke to the realization that she did not know where her life was going. But it was also in jail where she met a group of positive women who helped her change the circumstances that brought her to prison.

One of the women Sonia met told Sonia that she could go to back college. This was something Sonia had planned to do since high school but had to put on hold when she became pregnant right before she was about to start at Chabot College.

In taking that first step towards a brighter future, Sonia enrolled in two on-line classes at Coastline Community College. Soon after, Sonia figured out what she wanted to do with the rest of her new life: She wants to give back to her community in positive ways. 
 

"Not only will I achieve these goals for myself, but for my sons," Sonia said. "They have always been proud to be my children. For that simple reason, I will not stop trying to be the mother they deserve and to one day being the greatest social worker."
 

In spring of 2009, Sonia enrolled in Las Positas College. Her overriding educational goal was to earn an A.A. degree and to transfer to Cal State University, East Bay to pursue a B.A. in social services. After college, she plans to be employed in the Social Services field, specializing in the area of endangered youth and families. 
 

In May 2011, Sonia was awarded a $1,000 transfer scholarship from the League of Woman Voters of Livermore Amador Valley to help make her dreams of change and progress a reality. 
 

The League of Woman Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government. They influence public policy through education and advocacy. The requirements for the scholarship awarded to Sonia include planning a career in the public sector and having a demonstrated record of public service in student government, college clubs or community volunteer activities.  

Dr. Kevin G. Walthers

The Board of Trustees of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District has named Kevin Glen Walthers, Ph.D. the next President of Las Positas College. Dr. Walthers will begin at the College on August 8, 2011.

Among Dr. Walthers' many other duties, he will join the LPC Foundation Board of Directors as Secretary. He is looking forward to that role and noted that "in researching the College during the application process, I was very impressed by the Foundation. Not many community colleges around the nation can claim to have such solid support. The level of backing given to the College would be impressive in a good economy - the fact that the support continues during this downturn is a testament to the Tri-Valley community."

Dr. Walthers currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of Administration for the West Virginia Community and Technical College System and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. His duties include responsibility for the state's financial aid program and overseeing the West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing, the state's educational technology provider to K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.

Prior to his time in West Virginia, Dr. Walthers served as Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services at the College of Eastern Utah. In that position, Dr. Walthers oversaw a significant portion of college operations including athletics, auxiliaries, facility management, and financial operations. 

Dr. Walthers' career as an educator began in Texas as a high school teacher. He also served in policy roles with the Utah State Legislature and as a senior administrator with the Utah State Board of Regents.

Dr. Walthers earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah, a Master of Educational Administration degree from Texas A&M University - Commerce, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He began his college education at Eastfield College in the Dallas County Community College District. 

Join us in welcoming Kevin Walthers to the College, the Foundation and the Tri-Valley community!  

Jeff Manchester

Each year, Las Positas College selects a community member as its Friend of the College. The recipient is someone who has made a significant contribution to LPC's educational mission. For 2011, that individual is Foundation Chair, Jeff Manchester.

Born in Minnesota but raised in California, Jeff is recently retired from a career in management at Sandia National Laboratories, California. During his 28 years of service, Jeff managed several large and diverse departments at the D.O.E. complex.

While at Sandia, Jeff became acquainted with the Las Positas College Foundation and was invited to join the Board of Directors in 2006. His is a service commitment that he continues and cherishes today. Jeff has been instrumental in forming and supporting partnerships between the National Laboratories and the College.

As Board Chair for the Foundation, Jeff has worked to strengthen Board membership and to raise the bar for corporate and community investments in the College. He sees his work as essential to supporting the needs of the students and entire campus community.

Jeff met his wife, Ann, at the University of Santa Clara and they were married shortly after his first tour as a Naval Officer in Vietnam. They have two daughters and one granddaughter who all live in the Bay Area. For almost 30 years, Jeff has been a volunteer coach for girls' soccer clubs in Pleasanton where he lives.

Please join the campus community in recognizing Jeff for his commitment and support of LPC and leadership of its Foundation. If you have a history of support for higher education in general and Las Positas College in particular and have an interest in helping the College, contact Ted Kaye below to discuss ways in which you can work with the Foundation to further its mission.