The Peralta Colleges are home to many extraordinary individuals who consistently exceed expectations in their service to students, employees, and the community. In her January 2024 Flex Day speech, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson introduced the whimsically named "Flying Pig Awards" to celebrate such achievements – those that defy expectations and embody the true spirit of Peralta.

The first cohort of Flying Pig Award Recipients were honored in May 2024. At the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Chancellor Gilkerson honored the second cohort of Flying Pig Award Winners.

Here are Chancellor Gilkerson’s comments on each recipient.

• Mussie Tariku: Thank you for the remarkable contributions you've made supporting the Office of Student Life at Laney College, where you excel as a student worker, being warm, professional, and hard-working. You actively support the success of each student and often stay late to help them with issues. Your collaborative work with colleagues and thoughtful recommendations for improvements have elevated the standard of excellence and improved campus resources.
• Colinda Stephens (Coh-Linda Stevens): Thank you for your resilience, dedication, and service in the College of Alameda EOP&S and SAS Program. As an EOP&S Peer Mentor, you’ve made a lasting impact by guiding and supporting adult and parenting students, easing their transition back into education, and connecting them to vital resources. Your experience in inventory management has also led to significant improvements in EOP&S program operations. Through your leadership, compassion, and innovation, you are transforming the student experience.
• Judy Adams: Thank you for your amazing dedication to students and employees through your work coordinating the EOPS Program at Merritt College. In addition to your oversight of the budget and managing program logistics, students are your top priority. You have the unique skill of listening and hearing students’ underlying concerns and immediately working toward solving their problems. Moreover, you actively support the staff with training and support, creating an environment where they enjoy coming to work.
• Teri Antonio: Thank you for your dedication, expertise, and leadership. Your experience in IT and payroll ensured a seamless transition as interim Payroll Director at a crucial time. Your tireless work to improve systems, particularly HCM, is evidence of your selflessness and commitment to excellence. Your hard work as a team player brings joy and motivation to those around you.
• Drew Burgess: Thank you for your unwavering dedication to the arts and education at the College of Alameda, which has transformed the campus and district. Through your vision and advocacy, you’ve created a public art gallery, improved studio spaces, and brought vibrant murals and exhibitions to life, making art accessible to all. Your leadership extends beyond the classroom—chairing departments, serving on academic senates and volunteering tirelessly. With grace, patience, and a passion for equity and social justice, you embody the collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence.
• Roger Chung: Thank you for your visionary leadership of the ROC Program, which is transforming lives and setting a statewide standard for supporting currently and formerly incarcerated students. Guided by the belief that education is freedom and revolution, you’ve fostered a thriving program where students earn degrees, transfer, and secure meaningful employment. Through partnerships with Alameda County Education, Juvenile Justice, Clean Slate, and more, ROC’s impact extends beyond the classroom, empowering individuals and communities.
• Marcus Creel: Thank you for your outstanding contributions as a graphic designer and your dedication to fostering a positive, collaborative culture at PCCD. Your award-winning design work, including the 2024 CCPRO First Place for the Chancellor Search brochure, reflects your exceptional talent and creativity. Beyond your impressive professional achievements, you are known for your teamwork and swift delivery on tight deadlines. You also play a pivotal role in revitalizing the district's culture, organizing events like the winter holiday potluck and monthly bicycle rides that bring together colleagues from across departments. Your commitment to community extends to your care for the district's "TV dish garden," which you maintain and share with coworkers, consistently going above and beyond, improving Peralta's environment and making it a better, more engaging place for both staff and students.

Congratulations to all the Flying Pig Award Winners! Chancellor Gilkerson noted, “Your dedication aligns perfectly with our mission of 'advancing social and economic transformation for students and the community through quality education, rooted in equity, social justice, environmental sustainability, and partnerships.' Your unwavering commitment inspires us all. By metaphorically "making pigs fly," you epitomize the exceptional individuals who make Peralta a truly special community.”