Local and CSUN Officials Commemorate 20th Anniversary of Northridge Quake

  • CSUN Vice President for University Advancement Rob Gunsalus, Congressman Brad Sherman, chief executive and president of the Valley Economic Alliance Gregory S. Krikorian, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, local businesswoman and publisher of the The San Fernando Valley Sun Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, Councilman Bob Blumenfield and former Calif. Gov. Pete Wilson at "The Valley of the Stars: Reaching New Heights" event. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke at "The Valley of the Stars: Reaching New Heights" event. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, former Calif. Gov. Pete Wilson, founder of the Valley Economic Alliance David Flemming and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky speak at "The Valley of the Stars: Reaching New Heights" event. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Congressman Brad Sherman, local businesswoman and publisher of the The San Fernando Valley Sun Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, and CSUN’s vice president for administration and finance Colin Donahue at "The Valley of the Stars: Reaching New Heights" event. Photo by Lee Choo.

California State University, Northridge teamed up with the Valley Economic Alliance and others to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake at “The Valley of the Stars: Reaching New Heights” event on Jan. 17.

Colin Donahue, CSUN’s vice president for administration and finance, gave the morning welcome followed by several preparedness workshops. The university was also honored with an award for its transformative efforts in overcoming the earthquake’s devastation while continuing to serve its students and community. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti attended and gave his thoughts on the anniversary of one of the largest natural disasters to hit the city.

A luncheon at the University Student Union’s Northridge Center honored “the magnificent seven,” a group of individuals and businesses that were critical to Southern California’s recovery from the earthquake. The honorees include former Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan; former California Gov. Pete Wilson; retired Los Angeles Public Safety Field Deputy Jim Dellinger and Catherine Dellinger; former Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Chief Frank Borden; and Richard Andrews, former director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES).

For a full report on the event, click here.

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