Three Community Leaders Selected as "Hancock Honors" Recipients

MAY 4, 2023-- On May 3, Allan Hancock College announced the three community leaders who will be recognized at the inaugural Hancock Honors celebration in September.

The college will recognize former Superintendent/President Dr. Ann Foxworthy Lewellen, Grammy Award-winning musician Tommy Soulati Shepherd, and the late philanthropist Patty Boyd as its first class of honorees. Each honoree was selected for their dedication to creating lasting and positive impacts at Hancock and in their communities.

“Each of these honorees has a special connection to Hancock and have been changing the odds in the communities where they live,” said AHC Foundation Executive Director Jon Hooten.

Dr. Foxworthy Lewellen became the first woman to serve as superintendent/president of Allan Hancock College in 1992. Her achievements at Hancock include advancing technology, increasing degree and transfer opportunities, and improving the college’s facilities — including the construction of the Lompoc Valley Center. Since retiring, she has served as a committed volunteer and philanthropist in the community, most recently helping lead and complete a $5 million capital campaign for the Solvang Theaterfest.

Shepherd is a PCPA alumnus and a 2023 Grammy Award-winning artist for the children’s music group Alphabet Rockers. After completing both the acting and technical theater programs at PCPA in the 1990s, Shepherd spent years as a performer, composer, and producer for audiences around the country. Alphabet Rockers, which has two previous Grammy Award nominations, helps create brave spaces for parents, educators, and children to identify and interrupt cultural bias and shape a more equitable world. The Rockers have performed at The Smithsonian African American Museum of History Arts & Culture and The Kennedy Center.

Boyd was a native Santa Marian, a beloved piano instructor and a member of Hancock’s music department faculty. Boyd taught piano into her late eighties and continued to be involved with the college music department and PCPA until her death in 2012. Before her passing, she directed a $12 million gift to the Allan Hancock College Music Department and a $1 million gift to PCPA. A portion of Boyd’s gift was used to fund the construction of the college’s recently-opened Fine Arts Complex.

“These three individuals embody our college’s mission and values, and we are excited to celebrate them as our inaugural group of honorees,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D.

The college also announced a partnership with CoastHills Credit Union as the presenting sponsor of the event. CoastHills President and CEO Paul Cook was on hand for the announcement.

All three honorees will be officially recognized at the college’s inaugural Hancock Honors celebration on Sept. 9. Hancock Honors will be a ticketed event held in the new Fine Arts Complex’s outdoor plaza and 350-seat recital hall. The evening will feature digital interactive art installations, live art production, and music by the San Francisco-based Jazz Mafia. Proceeds from the celebration will benefit the Hancock Promise, which provides local high school graduates with a year of free tuition at Hancock.

To learn more about Hancock Honors and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/honors.