Gary Griggs, director of UCSC's Institute for Marine Sciences, and Pablo Reguerin, deputy director of the Educational Partnership Center, have been named Community Heroes for 2008 by the Community Assessment Project of the United Way of Santa Cruz County.
Griggs, a professor of Earth and Marine Sciences since 1968, was honored in the Natural Environment category for his 40 years of teaching and research on the California coast.
Reguerin, EPC's deputy director for the past six years, was honored in the Education category for his community outreach work to increase college-going and transfer rates among underrepresented and educationally disadvantaged students.
Griggs and Reguerin were among 26 members of the local community selected as heroes for 2008. Also named was a noted friend of UCSC, Peggy Downes Baskin, for her work helping women stay in school at Cabrillo College, ensuring they will be prepared for further education at four-year colleges.
The awards were announced November 24 at the United Way's press conference in Watsonville.
