USD Magazine, Winter 2004

Home Sweet Home USD's new home for alumni will open April 30 with a celebration chat will include the awarding of $50,000 in scholarships ro 25 stu– dents. The cluee-srory Degheri Alumni Center - which was completed in January and houses programming spaces and offices for alumni rela– tions and parent relations - will be officially dedicated with a grand opening featuring music, food and a

"People don't necessarily associate Santa Clara Valley with good wine," says Kristin, whose job is to host events and draw customers to the casting room. "We try to show people what a great region chis is for winemaking by offering wine education classes, hosting wine tasting dinners and art festivals." Working at the family winery, however, wasn't che first career choice for either sister. When their parents first started making wine from grapes grown in their Saratoga, Calif., back yard, neither USD student thought much of it. "My parents had just bottled their first vintage in 1992, which is when I scarred school," says Cheryl, whose degree is in business marketing. "Ac rhac point, che only interest I really had in what they were doing was getting them co send me wine." "Our roommates loved us," remembers Kristin, who majored in communication studies. Ac the same rime the sisters graduated and began careers in high-tech public relations, their parents' hobby began growing into a fi.Jl-fledged venture. In 1996, the Murphys moved their backyard operation to San Marcin, where they supervised inscallacion of an 80-acre vineyard of Cabernet, Merloc and Syrah vines. While the vines matured, the Murphys made wine with grapes purchased from ocher growers. Cheryl was working for Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in San Francisco when her parents first approached her co help market Clos LaChance's wines. "I wasn't really enjoying working in the technology sector, and I saw a loc of ways I could help chem," recalls Cheryl, who in 1999 quit her job to work full-rime at the winery and earned a certificate in wine marketing from UC Davis. "The marketing program was pretty much nil, so I wrote a plan and implemented it. Kristin, who earned a certificate in event management from the University of Washington, also saw ways ro help with the family busi– ness. In 2001, che Murphys completed construction on rhe Clos LaChance production facility and hospitality center, and Kristin was eager to pitch in. After a stint as public relations coordinator for the Holiday Bowl Parade in San Diego, Kristin moved to San Francisco to work as an associate for Niehaus Ryan Wong Public Relations. The high-tech firm didn't survive the Internet bust in 2001, and Kristin brought her expertise to rhe winery. Ir cook little time for her to add a new dimension. In 2002, Clos LaChance's elegant grounds were rl1e backdrop for 12 weddings. Last year, the winery hosted 40 weddings and receptions. Such events now bring in about 20 percent of the winery's coral revenues. Although working with their parents was an unexpected develop– ment, rhe sisters say being part of a winemaking family has even more benefits now than it did in college. Aside from trading urban office settings for postcard views of ran-colored hills, Cheryl and Kristin gee a deep sense of satisfaction from working together in an age-old profession. "Ir does rend to turn family dinners into business meetings," says Kristin, "bur it's a fun job and it's been very rewarding."

he serves up Mexi mochas, choco– lacinas and Mexpressos, Carrillo gives cusromers a shot of Chicano culture on cl1e side. Carillo's new cafe, located in the heart of San Diego's Barrio Logan, down che street from Chicano Park, offers a jolt char he hopes will spur patrons ro awareness and action in their community. "Any cup of coffee can wake you up," says Carrillo, who opened the cafe with partner Rene Guzman last summer. "But our coffee also wakes up the cusromers' Chicano cultural and political consciousness." Local artists, including Victor Ochoa, whose murals are a main attraction at the nearby park, quickly became regulars at the cafe, where Chicano studies professors from USO and ocl1er nearby universities often offer lectures. The coffeehouse is a venue for book signings, poetry readings and artistic displays, and is a meeting place for Chicano activists from organizations like Developing Unity Through Residents Organizing, which prevents the displacement of local residents as the neighborhood is gentrified, and La Raza Unida Parry, which promotes Chicano conscious– ness for local political candidates.

In January, workers put the finishing touches on the Degheri Alumni Center. random drawing for cl1e scholarships, donated by Bert Degheri '61 , whose gift made the building possible. After a morning ceremony at which Degheri will be recognized by USD officials, alumni board mem– bers and student representatives, the parry will be opened ro alumni, par– ents, students, faculty and staff. "Bert Degheri has called the alumni center 'cl1e gathering place,"' says Jack Kelly '87, direcror of alumni relations, "so we felt it was important ro invite the entire cam– pus community." K:elly says events at cl1e center will fulfill Degheri's wish for a gath– ering place for all members of the campus community. "Our goal for the building is nor for students ro walk by it every day and think it's just for alumni,"' Kelly says. "We want students ro know that it's a building where stu– dents and alumni can interact, learn from each ocher and benefit from each ocher's experiences." Brewing Up Cultural Consciousness At Chicano Perk, lldifonso Carrillo '95 is used ro filling call orders. As

lldifonso Carrillo '95 "The barrio needed a place like this," says Carrillo, a founding member ofUSD's United Front multicultural organization who says his mentor, Professor Gail Perez, supported his ideas for United Front and the cafe. "A place where aca– demic discussions and political dia– logue aren't limited to the schools, bur are part of the community." For information, Log on to www.chicanoperk.com

9

WI N T E R 2004