Note from the Chancellor

TO: The Alamo Community Colleges Family

FROM: Dr. Bruce Leslie, Chancellor

DATE: October 20, 2008

SUBJECT: Tragedy at Northeast Lakeview College

As we have responded and grieved to the terrible loss we all feel for Devin Zimmerman and his family and the impact this is having on the Godin family, we have shared, as a family, the profound loss of our colleague, friend and teacher. Yet, the manner in which everyone responded to the incident, from the faculty, staff, students and administration at Northeast Lakeview College, to the district and sister ACC colleges’ teams was extraordinary and exemplary. The very moment this tragedy occurred, employees and students responded, in several cases heroically, and the entire ACC team acted effectively, professionally and collectively. Chief Adams and our Department of Public Safety worked in close conjunction with the City of Live Oak and our communications team led by Leo Zuniga and Kathleen Johnson-Hodge acted quickly and professionally. Dr. Eric Reno and his entire team ensured the safety of everyone on the campus and then worked so diligently to ensure the emotional health of everyone touched by this tragedy. The vice chancellors, presidents, counselors, facilities team all performed professionally, sensitively and with the greatest focus on doing all that needed to be done. Thank you to everyone for a swift, professional, deliberate and focused response to this terrible incident.

Though we may never understand the why, we all personally understand the hurt felt by the Zimmerman family, the Godin family, and our students and employees throughout the ACC family. Northeast Lakeview College will continue organizing memorials, including a scholarship to Devin and we will continue to keep you informed of these events and activities so that the entire ACC family can share and participate.

Thank you to the faculty and staff at Northeast Lakeview also for a decision to begin classes again on Wednesday so that the vision that Devin shared of opening a new, beautiful and magnificent new college would not be deterred.