Former dean to be honored
By Dan King
Flyer Staff Writer

[Evonne Davenport]
Former dean Evonne Davenport will be honored next week with a plaque denoting her 35 years of service.
The EVC gym will be dedicated Wednesday in honor of popular former faculty member and administrator Evonne Davenport.

Davenport will be completing the triumvirate of campus plaques dedicated to individuals important to EVC.

Former EVC Administrator Mauro Chavez has a plaque in his name at the entrance of the library and the grove in front of the Learning Center was recently dedicated to Civil Rights Activist César Chávez.

Davenport was a 35-year veteran of the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District, having started work at San Jose City College in 1959 as a Physical Education instructor.

In 1975 she volunteered to become a founding member of the EVC faculty.

As a member of the original planning committee, Davenport helped develop the curriculum, college organization, architecture and the layout of the campus.

Davenport is responsible for the establishment of the Physical Education program at EVC, and served as both a Center Coordinator and Division Dean in her years at EVC.

When she retired in 1994, Minerva Duke, Physical Education Lab Director said, "The building [the gymnasium] is here because of her. She was the primary source for the plans. She knew what we needed and she made sure we got it. The woman is an extraordinary person who follows through on everything she does."

A bronze plaque commemorating the dedication of the gymnasium to Davenport will be unveiled at the entrance to the building.

The gymnasium dedication will be combined with the ceremony for the grand opening of the Sequoia Building on Wednesday.

Schedule of events:

9:00 a.m. Tour starts of the new Sequoia Building -- Continental breakfast in Sequoia Conference Room, S-219
10:00 a.m. Dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony in Sequoia Building Lecture Hall, S-150. Entertainment by Johnson & Johnson Lifescan Diversity Choir and Karen Thielen, Harpist with the San Jose Symphony and Opera San Jose.
11:00 a.m. Tours of the Sequoia Building resume.
11:30 a.m. Luncheon, Gullo Student Center Patio
2:00 p.m. Gymnasium dedication to Evonne Davenport. Refreshments served.

Lunch reservations required. RSVP by May 1 (408) 223-6784 Ext. 6738

Posted May 2, 2002