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For release: June 7, 1999

At De Anza College's 32nd Annual Commencement
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales to Present Graduation Keynote Address

     San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, who studied liberal arts at De Anza College from 1969 to 1971, will give the commencement keynote address at his alma mater on Friday, June 25, at 4 p.m. in the Outdoor Events Arena. Some 1,225 De Anza students will be eligible to graduate that day. They represent one of the largest graduation classes in the college's 32-year history.

     Mayor Gonzales has several strong ties to De Anza. His oldest daughter, Miranda Gonzales, is part of De Anza's Class of 1999 and earned her associate degree in administration of justice; and his youngest daughter, Alejandra Gonzales, is currently studying liberal arts at the college. Two years ago De Anza President Martha Kanter granted him an honorary associate degree.

     "My education at De Anza taught me to use my eyes to see the importance of higher education in my future, to expand my mind so that I could better understand the future, and to search my heart to believe I could have an impact on the future," reflected Mayor Gonzales.

     Prior to his election as mayor of San Jose, he worked as an education program manager with the Hewlett-Packard Company and led a national education initiative that established partnerships between Hewlett-Packard, local school districts and universities. He also has been recognized for these efforts:

     Ô to reduce toxic pollution, improve the regional transportation system and reduce crime while serving on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for eight years;

     Ô to introduce technology into county government and launch an innovative performance-based budgeting system as chair of the Board of Supervisors; and

     Ô to help initiate governmental efficiency measures as Sunnyvale's two-time mayor and member of its city council. Those measures were later recognized in the best- selling book, "Reinventing Government."

     Mayor Gonzales, who earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz, is involved in numerous civic organizations. He's especially proud to be a founder of The Role Model Program, an effort that recruits adult role models to regularly visit local middle schools.

     It will be possible to view De Anza's graduation ceremony live on local cable channels 15, 34a, 30 and 50. The commencement program will be rebroadcast periodically.

     About 5,000 people Û including graduates' family and friends and De Anza faculty and staff Û are expected to attend the outdoor program. Immediately following the ceremony there will be a reception featuring food and entertainment.