North Orange County Chamber of Commerce recently honored Cal State Fullerton as one of the “Jewels of our Community.”
The award was presented June 22 during the organization’s 2018 Business Excellence and Leadership Awards. Kari Knutson Miller, provost and vice president for academic affairs, accepted on behalf of the university.
Via video, President Fram Virjee thanked the chamber, saying: “On behalf of Cal State Fullerton’s faculty, staff, students and its nearly 300,000 alumni —the vast majority of which live and work in Orange County — I want to thank the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce for all its support and for this honor.”
Virjee recognized the other honorees, including Titan alumnus and U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, and noted that if Virjee was at the ceremony, he would ask all the Titans to stand “and more than half of the room would be rising.
“Indeed, by sheer numbers alone, CSUF is both the leading change agent in Orange County and the preeminent path of upward mobility in California,” Virjee continued.
“My point is this: Cal State Fullerton is a university of significance, significance in Orange County, significance in our nation. And our impact is only exceeded by the unique stories of our success.
“Throughout our 60-year history, Cal State Fullerton has been called a hidden gem and a diamond in the rough but I much prefer the title bestowed on us tonight: a jewel of the community.”
In addition to CSUF and Royce, the chamber also honored Polly’s Pies and St. Jude Medical Center. As part of the evening, the organization’s 2018-19 board of directors was installed. Among the new board members is Tami Bui, associate vice president of government and community relations.