March 14, 2003

City College Spring Salon honors alumni

The realization of a college education is one of life's marvelous accomplishments. When that dream is realized a little later in life, the joy is magnified. Unlike most of the younger graduates of the university, City College graduates usually accept their degrees fully aware of the realities of life and the fact the Father Time stops for no one. These admirable men and women have juggled careers, families, and various social and civic commitments to return to the grind of college life to acquire their undergraduate and graduate degrees. That is why the annual Spring Salon it awaited with such anticipation.

The Spring Salon not only raises funds that enable adults to return to school, the event also provides a time when Dean Marcel Dumestre and the City College faculty and staff can publicly recognize its alumni, specifically two of its graduates who have distinguished themselves through unwavering support to the university and the community-at-large.

At this year's event on March 22, Edwin P. Compass, III, C'00, G'02, and Ramona G. Almonte, C'88, L'96, will receive the Distinguished Alumni awards and the well-earned accolades of their peers.

Compass is superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, appointed by Mayor C. Ray Nagin in May 2002. He joined the NOPD in 1979 as a recruit and has received the New Orleans Police Department's second highest award, the Medal of Merit, three commendation medals, and five "Police Officer of the Month" awards. Compass received a master's degree in criminal justice in May. His was the first graduating class.

Almonte is assistant director of the Loyola Law Clinic, where she assists students and faculty with representation and supervision of cases in family, civil, municipal, juvenile, and criminal court. She has helped hundreds of people in the surrounding community with pro bono legal actions and has received the Loyola Law School Gillis Long Pro Bono Public Service Award.

Ed Daniels, A'79, WGNO television news anchor, will lend his talent as master of ceremonies under this year's theme "City on the Move." The event, which will be held at The City Club of New Orleans, 1525 St. Charles Avenue, also offers a silent auction and raffle. The City Club is underwriting the event.

For more information or tickets, call 865-3530.