TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Garces Memorial High School's Alumni Board of Directors will hold its fifth annual "Hall of Honor" dinner and awards ceremony May 19 in Monsignor Leddy Hall on the Garces campus, 2800 Loma Linda Drive.

The Hall of Honor pays tribute to those who have contributed to Garces by demonstrating a continuing commitment to, and promotion of its values, mission, and philosophy. The 2012 inductees are:

* Dan Giordano, a 1966 graduate of Garces. He was a partner in Glinn & Giordano and worked as a private practice physical therapist for 35 years.

Giordano had an open door policy for Garces student athletes and treated them like family -- never charging their families for his services or for the use of his facility. For more than 20 years, at no cost to Garces, Giordano could be found on the sidelines of Garces football games making sure players got the treatment they needed on a timely basis. In 2004, Giordano joined the school board, later becoming chairman, a position he holds to this day.

As chairman, he has overseen the addition of a new science building, student chapel, swimming pool, tennis courts and batting cages. He continues to oversee the modernization of Garces along with helping to ensure its financial security.

* Gene Garibaldi, who along with his wife, Joan, began the successful and lucrative bingo program, where they served as co-chairs for more than 10 years. Garibaldi was the master of ceremonies at bingo for 700 consecutive Sundays and raised more than $750,000 for Garces. They, along with a group of parents and supporters, were instrumental in introducing and inaugurating the Garces Gala.

* Joe Ziemann, who is a behind-the-scenes supporter of Garces Memorial and Catholic education. He has been an active volunteer for more than 40 years.

He has served on the Garces Memorial Foundation board since 1995 and, under his stewardship, the assets of the foundation have grown from $225,000 to $3.2 million. Due to his financial acumen, the foundation is able to provide vital scholarships and financial aid to deserving Garces families. Ziemann has also been instrumental in establishing an endowment fund as part of the foundation to ensure long-term financial support for the goals of Garces. Ziemann has also served on the fall barbecue committee for more than 20 years and is frequently seen on campus attending Garces events.

Garces President John Fanucchi will present the 2012 President's Award to Alice Jett Conley, and Vince and Marie Sakowski. Alice Jett Conley was the matriarch of a family that has been a part of Garces since the 1940s. There have been three generations who have attended Garces every decade since the school opened. They are members of the Jett, Sakowski and Swertfager families.

Tickets are $100 per person and available at Garces. The doors open at 5 p.m. More information: 327-2578, extension 129, or visit www.garces.org.

-- Garces Memorial High School