Betty Byron and Daniel Bahner Immortalized at Crafton
A special naming ceremony for two former Crafton employees was held on Thursday, May 25, 2016.
The Betty Byron Memorial Atrium was named for Byron who served as the librarian at Crafton Hills College from 1975-2005. She retired shortly before her death in February 2005. During her tenure, Byron served in many other capacities that directly impacted the growth and development of the College:
- Taught classes in philosophy, logic and ethics
- Served as the college’s part-time webmaster
- Created an online library connecting to Native American links nationwide
- Established an intern program where CHC students in the Computer Information Science program created websites for Yucaipa elementary schools
- Launched the “college begins in Kindergarten” project
“Betty loved books, students and people. She was a defender of the underdog and fought discrimination of all kinds,” said Laura Winningham, a former colleague of Byron’s in the library and the Betty Byron Memorial Atrium benefactor.
The Dr. Daniel Bahner Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning and Student Scholarship recognizes Bahner, a 25 year employee of Crafton Hills College who passed away in December 2015. Bahner served not only as a member of the faculty in the English department but also in many other capacities that directly affected the growth and development of the College:
- Chair of the English Department
- President of the Academic Senate
- Co-Founder of the Honors Program
- Development of Supplemental Instruction and Learning Communities
- Director of the Crafton Hills College Foundation
The Academic Senate recognized Bahner as “a change agent who challenged us to become better educators while showing his care and compassion for us as individuals.”
Naming rights can be bestowed with a $25,000 gift to the CHC Foundation. Funds have been raised accordingly for both Byron and Bahner.
