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National Center on Deafness Revives Its Prestigious Awards at Stars Gala

From 1968 to 1998, Cal State Northridge’s National Center on Deafness (NCOD) awarded individuals, schools and communities for their exemplary leadership, innovative leadership and commitment to enhancing quality life for deaf people. The NCOD proudly announces the revival of the prestigious CSUN NCOD Awards.

This year the awards will be given at the NCOD’s Stars Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. The gala will take place at the Northridge Center Complex in the University Student Union (USU). The USU is on the east side of campus, located at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

The Cloud Award for Exemplary Leadership in Education, Human, and/or Community Services will be presented to Herbert Larson.

Larson is recognized nationally for facilitating greater awareness and appreciation of the abilities of deaf people and advocating for greater access and success for all. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from Gallaudet University in 1956 and a master’s in educational administration and supervision from CSUN in 1965. He served as the NCOD director for several years during his 43-year career in education and administration.

Larson also won an Emmy for his performance in hosting “Off Hand,” an informational television series featuring deaf people and sign language.

The Bulwer award for Innovative Leadership will be presented to both the California School for the Deaf (CSD) and the Deaf West Theatre Company.

The California School for the Deaf celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary this year. Founded in 1860 in San Francisco, CSD moved to Berkeley and in 1980 to Fremont, where it continues to grow today. With its superintendent, Henry Klopping, at the helm since 1975, the school is recognized and respected regionally,
nationally and internationally as a program of bilingual excellence. Lopping received his master’s in education leadership from CSUN.

The CSD philosophy focuses on the educational, social and emotional needs of the whole student and supports artistic and athletic abilities, leadership and real-world experiences for its students. The school work force, fluent in American Sign Language and English, is knowledgeable and passionate about deaf culture, language acquisition practices, learning technologies and bilingual education.

The Deaf West Theatre Company (DWT), also a recipient of the Bulwer award, is distinguished by award-winning productions and awards that included the 2004 Tony Honor of Excellence for the Broadway play, “Big River,” the 2007 Theatre Ovation Award for “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” and many more.

Ed Waterstreet, Deaf West Theatre artistic director and CEO, and his wife, Linda Bove opened the DWT when they arrived in Los Angeles and were astounded at the lack of a cultural opportunity for the 1.5 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the L.A. area. With 12 years of experience and expertise with the National Theatre of the Deaf, they set about achieving their dream of a permanent sign language theatre company on the West Coast.

With 12 award-winning seasons, DWT continues its goal of providing an exhilarating theatrical experience for all audiences, deaf and hearing, signers and non-signers.

The Distinguished Service Award for Lifelong Commitment to Enhancing Lives will be presented to Sheri Ann Farinha.

Farinha, a CSUN alumna, is a long-time strong and visible civil rights activist on numerous deaf-related issues concerning access and quality. Farinha, is CEO of the NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing since 1993, a community based agency which has served in an administrative capacity running non-profit
community based organizations in California for over 26 years. She is nationally known for her leadership and advocacy for system reforms in areas of education, employment, and telecommunications. She served as an elected president of the California Association of the Deaf board member, Telecommunications Administrative Deaf & Disabled Advisory Board (TADDAB), California Public Utilities Commission, and California Judicial Council Advisory Board/Sign Language Interpreters. One of Sheri’s current focus is grassroots coalition work on education reform via early identification and regionalization of programs serving deaf children.

Aside from the award show, the gala will include a banquet and a De’VIA Deaf Arts Auction with Academy-Award winner Marlee Matlin and Ed Waterstreet as auctioneers. Manny Johnson, a CSUN alumnus, will serve as master of ceremonies. All proceeds will go to a scholarship fund for deaf and hard of hearing CSUN students.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are on sale for $85. Please visit www.csun.edu/ncod or e-mail roz.rosen@csun.edu for more information.