Meet the 2025 Award Recipients
President Omar Torres has selected four members of the campus community to receive this year's President's Award for Outstanding Service, which honors De Anza employees who have provided exceptional service to the college and its students.
Sal Breiter, Margarita Hawthorn and Eric Mendoza were selected from nominations submitted in the categories of faculty member, classified professional and administrator. In addition, Nathaly Aguilar was selected for a special award in the category of executive assistant.
The award was first established by De Anza's founding president, A. Robert DeHart. Recipients have their names engraved on a plaque in the Administration Building lobby. In addition, each award winner will be featured in this year's graduation program and will receive $250 from President Espinosa-Pieb personally, as a token of appreciation for their service.
Sal Breiter
Faculty Coordinator, Office of Professional Development
Sal Breiter is known for his dynamic teaching style and his empathy for students and
colleagues. During 23 years as a full-time instructor of Humanities, he co-founded
the annual Partners In Learning Conference and worked actively with the Guided Pathways
initiative and Villages, the Humanities Mellon Scholars program and a variety of campus
committees.
Last year, Breiter became faculty coordinator for the Office of Professional Development, where he has launched new equity and training initiatives.
“The amount and diversity of offerings that the office produced this year is indicative of his deep commitment to learning,” a nominator wrote. “While Sal might have transitioned from the college classroom, he is still manifesting his desire of getting people to think deeply about continual growth and learning. Sal has curated a feast of professional development offerings that help student success and equity, and meets employees where they are in their own learning journeys.”
Margarita Hawthorn
Program Coordinator, Community Education
Margarita is a quietly effective classified professional who helps keep De Anza’s
Community Education programs running smoothly. She began working as Planetarium administrative
assistant in 2002 and became program coordinator in 2017.
Hawthorn has also been active with the Classified Senate and its Elections Committee, as well as the Caring Campus initiative, which works to increase student retention and success while recognizing that classified professionals play a key role in making students feel welcome and supported on campus.
“Not only is Margarita a staple of the Planetarium, she strives to help all students on campus,” a nominator wrote. “As a member of the Caring Campus initiative, she is here at every start to the quarter, handing out snacks and helping students find their classes and answer questions. She is also a support to other classified staff, offering her knowledge and insight for folks who need it.”
Eric Mendoza
Dean, Physical Education and Athletics
Eric Mendoza has been dean of Physical Education and Athletics since 2019, after holding
leadership positions in athletics and student development at several other colleges.
At De Anza, he led the athletics program through the challenges of the COVID pandemic
and has been an energizing force in supporting students through the Student-Athlete
Advisory Council, Football Academic Success Team and other programs.
Mendoza also has been active with campus governance committees, the De Anza Latinx Association, A2MEND and the Student Conduct Hearing Committee.
About Mendoza, a nominator wrote: “His unwavering dedication to student success, particularly for underrepresented populations, and his commitment to building inclusive, campuswide partnerships truly embody the spirit of this award … Dr. Mendoza consistently builds out from Athletics, forging authentic partnerships with Instruction, Student Services and other areas to benefit not only student-athletes but the broader student body and faculty as well.”
Nathaly Aguilar
Executive Assistant, Office of the President
As a key member of the president's office, Nathaly Aguilar supports senior leadership
and helps ensure the smooth operation of numerous initiatives and events. Known for
her professionalism, discretion and commitment, Aguilar is a trusted resource and
collaborator across the campus community.
A proud first-generation college student and bilingual professional, Aguilar volunteers regularly for campus events and has been active with the De Anza Latinx Association, the Educational Justice for Undocumented Students (EJUS) committee and Caring Campus.
Aguilar was selected for a special award by President Omar Torres, who said she has made an important contribution to innovation and change during his first year at De Anza. “None of this would have been possible without the leadership and the care provided by Nathaly, who has been nothing short of miraculous in her support of her executive assistant colleagues, the senior leadership team and me,” he added.