The Cerritos College faculty and Board of Trustees honored former superintendent and Cerritos College president Dr. Wilford Michael last Wednesday in the library.

Michael was given a special recognition picture frame.

Eighty faculty and Board of Trustees members praised Michael for his commitment to education and to the college itself.

Dr. Noelia Vela, Cerritos College president, said, “Dr. Michael, you have been wonderful and kind to me, and you have become a mentor as well.”

“Not only that,” Dr. Vela said, “but the Cerritos College faculty and its students appreciate your continued commitment.”

Michael’s sister Marilyn Michael-Angelo agrees with that sentiment.

She said that Michael’s interest in education was great influenced by their mother who was a schoolteacher for 23 years.

“He has attended all of the activities that Cerritos has held every year.”

It shows that he “really loves” Cerritos College.

Michael began his career in education in 1947 as a teacher in the Chino Unified School District.

He joined Cerritos College in 1972 where he served as assistant superintendent. In 1973, the Board of Trustees appointed him as president.

His focus during this time was the occupational programs of secretarial sciences, auto technology, carpentry, nursing, and electronics.

“It has been a privilege to work with the Cerritos College faculty,” Michael said after the unveiling of his photograph that hangs in the library entrance.

The first thing that he noticed when he arrived at Cerritos was the students and its faculty because it was possible to learn.

He says that Cerritos teachers “are not just good teachers but great teachers.”

Michael held the position of president for the longest amount of any other president.

In 1986, when Michael retired, after serving as Cerritos College’s president for 13 years, he set out to continue his goal to help Cerritos College evolve technologically.

“Cerritos College,” Michael praised, “is one of the best colleges in the state (of California).”

His brother Stanford Michael said, “He deserves this honor.”

The former president’s wife, Jean, said, “The family and I are thrilled.”

Michaels grandson, Ethan Totten, said that his grandfather is inspirational to him.

He added that his commitment to education “was the only thing that I see him (Michael) do.”

His wife expressed that his picture will, “hopefully,” not be taken down by the faculty.

“This picture will not,” reassured Vela, “be coming down for a very, very long time.”

Michael’s simple philosophy is that he hoped that all those he worked with would say, “I knew you.”