Sonoma State University's 2008 Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet will honor five people who have made significant contributions to the community and the campus.
The event is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park.
For their dedication to community service and the founding grant for the Green Music Center, Don and Maureen Green will receive the Alumni Community Achievement Award.
The Greens are music lovers, advocates for children and animals, philanthropists and community volunteers. They are responsible for the creation of the Carriage Trade Group, a community organization that promotes the adoption of children in association with the California Department of Social Services. 
They also dedicate themselves to improving the quality of music instruction in the area.
Duane Hill of Ukiah, retired Chief Executive Officer and creator of the Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for his work with the organization. In his 33 years with the RCHDC, Hill led them to become the largest nonprofit affordable housing developer in rural Northern California. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from SSU in 1978.
Myrna Goodman of Glen Ellen, Director of the SSU Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide, will be given the Distinguished Faculty Award.
Goodman is responsible for coordination of the Holocaust Lecture Series, an annual series aimed at raising awareness about genocide, which attracts one hundred students every year as well as renowned speakers from around the world. She also teaches the upper-division course, Sociology of Genocide, and is the faculty advisor for the Human Rights Club.
Julie Dinkins of Cotati, Access Services Manager for the University Library, will receive the Outstanding Staff Award. Dinkins has shown exceptional dedication in all of her positions at the Library. Dinkins graduated from Sonoma State with a B.A. in Anthropology in 1985.
To RSVP for the banquet, call (707) 664-2426 or e-mail alumni.office@sonoma.edu.
