Three prominent Pierce College alumni are recognized for making a difference

Eileen Quackenbush
Staff Writer

The 2012 Distinguished Alumni Banquet honored former students Sergeant 1st Class (SFC) Leroy Petry, Honorable Garold Johnson, and Shota Nakama at the Health Education Center (HEC) building on April 12.

Petry, Johnson, and Nakama were recognized for their professional and educational achievements, community service, and personal triumphs.

These three men spoke about their memories at Pierce College and how their education molded their lives.

SFC Leroy Petry attended Pierce College’s military program on Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) from 2003-2004.

Petry is a US Army Ranger and the second living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions since the Vietnam War.

According to the Pierce View magazine, during a fire fight in Afghanistan in 2008, Petry picked up a live grenade to save the lives of two men in his unit.

Petry suffered from a bullet wound in each of his legs and lost his hand when the grenade exploded.

“My dad has a prosthetic hand connected to an arm sleeve that goes to his elbow,” Austin West, Petry’s son, said.

“He can open and close his hand because of the sensors in the arm sleeve, which picks up his muscle movement,” West added.

Although Petry is known for being a war hero, he spoke highly of the instructors at Pierce College. Petry mentioned that being on the dean’s list was something he could share with his mentors and his family.

Petry continues to work with wounded soldiers and their families at JBLM.

The Hon. Gary Johnson at- tended the Fort Steilacoom campus from 1970-1972. Johnson has been a Pierce County Superior Court judge since April 18, 2011.

Johnson spoke about how his initial college experience was not an immediate success.

“My first two classes were both incomplete,” Johnson said.

Johnson explained that it was necessary for him to understand failure, which gave him the tenacity to succeed.

Johnson enjoys his job as a superior court judge, continues to uphold the law, and he is grateful for his community college experiences.

Musician, producer, arranger, and translator Shota Nakama took classes at Pierce College as an international education student. Nakama earned his associates degree in 2003.

Nakama made the audience at the banquet roar with laughter as he talked about his crush on a former instructor and how his mentors helped him develop his talents in musical performance.

According to the Pierce View magazine, Nakama is the founder, producer, and musical director of Video Game Orchestra, a diverse group of classically trained musicians who perform contemporary arrangements in video game music.

In an online interview, Nakama said, “I always wanted to be a rockstar when I studied guitar.”

The Distinguished Alumni Banquet was made possible by a group of trustees, board of directors, speakers, a selection committee, and seven sponsors. Tickets were sold for $25.

For additional information about the alumni banquet, please contact Ruth Ann Hatchett at [email protected]