Sierra College Foundation Honors Mary Conkey as 2009 Partner of the Year

A well deserved kudos to Mary Conkey. She and her husband Jim have been longtime supporters of Sierra College and our broader community.

The Sierra College Foundation has awarded Mary Conkey its 2009 Outstanding Partnership Award for her support of Sierra College as chairperson of the Foundation’s annual fundraiser "A Taste of Excellence."

Individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional support and commitment to Sierra College are recognized annually at the Foundation’s Major Donor Reception, which was held recently at Sierra College’s Rocklin campus.

The Foundation presented Conkey, a Granite Bay resident, with the 2009 Outstanding Partnership Award to honor her five years as chairperson of “A Taste of Excellence,” which has become one of Placer County’s premier food- and wine-tasting events and the Foundation’s largest fundraiser. The event has raised more than $750,000 since it began in 2005.

“Mary’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of ‘A Taste of Excellence’ every year,’’ said Sonbol Aliabadi, executive director of the Sierra College Foundation. “We thank Mary for her commitment to this successful fundraiser that supports Sierra College and its students through scholarships and program funding.”

Past recipients of Outstanding Partnership Award have included Sutter Roseville Medical Center, United Auburn Indian Community, KT Communities and Fidelity Investments.

Did you know Sierra College has a foundation to foster connections between the college and the community, and to fund projects that will increase student success and college access? It’s true — and you can get an “insider’s view” of the foundation by following Executive Director Sonbol Aliabadi on Twitter.