Presidential Medals were awarded to community members Amy Bublak, Jeffrey Lewis, Mike Staack and Adrian Harrell last week by Stanislaus State’s outgoing interim president Sue Borrego. One of the University's highest honors, the medal recognizes members of the campus or community who have exhibited an exemplary record of service, dedicated leadership and support of Stanislaus State and the community. The accolade acknowledges their contribution to the fulfillment of the campus' mission, vision, values and goals.
Borrego, who has served in the role since the retirement of President Emerita Ellen Junn in summer 2023, will have her term as interim president expire on Monday. Britt Rios-Ellis will then assume the position as the 12th full-time president in Stanislaus State’s 67-year history. Bestowing the Presidential Medals to the four community members was one of Borregos final official duties as the head of the university.
Bublak currently serves as the mayor of Turlock. She is the first woman to run for and to be elected to the position. As she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1989 and her Master of Public Administration in 1995, Bublak was twice elected president of Associated Students, Inc. and was an All-American in track and field for shot put and javelin. In 2001, she was inducted into the Warrior Athletics Hall of Fame. Borrego credits Bublak for being instrumental in reconnecting the University with the City of Turlock.
"During my time here, we have had lots of conversations and opportunities to work at how we connect the campus and the community better," Borrego said.
The two engaged university and city leadership in visits and conversations, re-engaging the many alumni who work for the city. One result of those connections is the hanging of Stan State banners in various locations across Turlock.
"I am so proud that I became a Warrior," Bublak said. "I'm glad that I chose to come here. Everyone embraced me - faculty, staff and students. They saw potential in me that I didn't see in me. Being a Warrior has made me who I am. I'm very thankful for this honor. And I really appreciate you reaching across to get us back to having the city embrace our University."
Lewis is the chief operating officer of Legacy Health Endowment. Borrego described him as being instrumental in facilitating scholarships and financial support for students pursuing a nursing degree.
"He describes waking up every day with a smile on his face because he gets to do work that makes a difference in the lives of others," Borrego said of Lewis. "He's a visionary and innovative change maker. Whether it's public policy, philanthropy, growing the number of nurses serving the Central Valley or dealing with a call that comes one morning from a mother who doesn't have a wheelchair for a child. He's an investor in the promise of tomorrow.”
Lewis was also grateful for his relationship with the interim president.
"Sue Borrego, who joined this community 11 months ago, very quickly demonstrated incredible brilliance, caring and courage. You stole many hearts, particularly mine," Lewis said.
Staack, a local almond grower and founder of Grizzly Nut LLC., currently serves as the president of the Kiwanis of Greater Turlock. His wife attended Stan State, and his daughter earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the institution. He is a proud booster of Stan State’s many athletics programs. Since Borrego came to Turlock nearly a year ago, Staack made it a mission to accompany the interim president to a number of community events and volunteer in community service projects with the Kiwanians.
"These are the details that describe Mike, but they don't tell you about his heart for others, his constant involvement in wanting to make life better," Borrego said. "He must say to me six times every time I see him that we are better together.”
“As president of Kiwanis of Greater Turlock, I was honored to be awarded the President’s Medal by Sue Borrego,” Staack said. “She showed how the right president can bring a community together with Stan State. Sue showed up and made a difference and proved we are better together. We will always be good friends.
Borrego described the community service club as her “family.”
“Kiwanis is truly a family to me,” she said. “The way I was welcomed with open arms and the way Mike and the rest of you made me feel a part of the community was so, so special. And the work that this organization does is simply amazing.”
As for Harrell, after graduating with degrees in sociology and French in 1998, she moved to Paris to begin her career. Upon her return, she founded her business, New Bridge Management, in Turlock and went to work building Stan State's alumni network, becoming a member of the Alumni Council in 2014. She was elected to be a director on the Foundation Board in 2020.
"When I talk about Adrian asking all the time about how we include alumni, it was because she so wants to see us be all we can be," Borrego said. "She has been a friend of the University for a very long time, and I am fortunate she's become a friend of mine."
Harrell said she was "humbled" by the award.
"Recently, I was asked by a very smart person, 'What do you want to do?' I realized at that moment that I'm doing exactly what I want to do. I am giving back to the University, to an organization, to a people that mean the world to me," she said.
As she shared a vision of continuing to reach out to alumni and encouraging them to become involved with Stan State, Harrell thanked Borrego. "Under your guidance and leadership, you have propelled us in ways that are going to have a lasting impact on all of us. Thank you for your service.”
— The Stanislaus State Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing (MarCom) contributed to this report.
