COMMUNITY NEWS PIERCE GRADUATE DESIGNATED ONE OF STATE SYSTEM'S BEST.

Former Pierce College student Robert A. Wharton, a botanist who has led expeditions to Antarctica and helped NASA prepare for Mars missions, has been named one of the California Community Colleges League Distinguished Alumni for 2004.

Wharton, who now works in Virginia, is a 1969 graduate of Birmingham High School in Van Nuys. He attended Los Angeles Pierce College from September 1969 to June 1971 and went on to study at California State University, Northridge.

The presentation will be made at the league's annual convention this week in Anaheim.

Wharton, who specializes in life support systems in harsh environments such as space, now serves as executive officer of the Polar Program for the National Science Foundation.

Three California State University, Channel Islands, student artists and Art Department chairman Jack Reilly will join other artists in donating ``heart art'' to benefit hospice services in Ventura County.

On Dec. 5 at the Renaissance Hotel in Agoura Hills, Loving Heart Hospice Foundation will hold its annual fund-raiser - a silent action of fine art featuring heart imagery.

``This year we wanted to include our local art students in the auction and CSUCI has committed to donate four pieces of student art,'' said Martha Zeiher, director of fund-raising for the event.

Last year, the auction featured 50 works of art from more than 30 contributors, including some nationally known artists.

The auction at the hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, will run from 2 to 6 p.m., with tickets costing $10, either in advance or at the door. For more information, call [phone].

Chatsworth resident Carolyn Rhee has been appointed chairwoman-elect of the board of directors of the American Cancer Society California Division.

Rhee, who has been a volunteer for the society since 1987, will also serve as chairwoman of the board development committee.

As chairwoman of the board of directors, Rhee will recommend interim objectives toward the society's 2015 goals, which include reducing cancer incidence by 25 percent, reducing cancer mortality by 50 percent and improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

Isis McKenzie, public affairs coordinator at DeVry University's West Hills campus, was crowned Ms. Black California USA 2005 recently in Los Angeles.

During the contest, McKenzie won for best personal interview, best entrepreneur and most photogenic. She also delivered a tribute to her father as part of the individual challenge part of the competition.

In the coming year, McKenzie will continue working at DeVry while traveling around the state on weekends, attending community events and acting as a role model for young Californians.

McKenzie is also a graduate student at DeVry's Keller Graduate School of Management.

Members of the Water and Power Community Credit Union raised more than $2,800 last month at a community pancake breakfast, with proceeds going to the Devonshire Police Activity League, the Los Angeles Fire Department Adopt-A-Fire Station program and local elementary schools.

More than 800 San Fernando Valley residents took park in the event by the credit union, which has a branch in the Valley. In addition to the breakfast, the event included pony rides, a petting zoo and the chance to meet police officers.

``Now more then ever, achieving a sense of community is important, especially in the San Fernando Valley where so many backgrounds meld into one,'' said Kayleen Leone, senior vice president of members services for the credit union.