State Rep. Woronchak receives HFCC Distinguished Service Award

State Representative Gary Woronchak (R-Dearborn) is the recipient of the 2004 Henry Ford Community College Distinguished Service Award.  The award was presented to Rep. Woronchak at HFCC's commencement on Saturday, May 8. 

Instituted in 1978, the award honor those, who, over the years, have made significant contributions toward excellence in education, and particularly, to HFCC.  Rep. Woronchak, who represents the 15th District, has been chosen for this special award for his outstanding civic accomplishments and his unwavering support of HFCC, according to HFCC President Andrew A. Mazzara, who will present the award to Woronchak. 

'As Dearborn's state representative, Mr. Woronchak has distinguished himself as an unwavering advocate for the citizens of Dearborn and the students of Henry Ford Community College,' said Mazzara.  'Mr. Woronchak has shown his dedication and commitment to Henry Ford by his support for the College's local operating millages and bond issues as well as state appropriations. 

' His support for state funds to supplement HFCC's local bond issue to renovate and update aging facilities enabled the College to create a modern, supportive learning environment for students.   As a watchdog in Lansing for HFCC's interests, Mr. Woronchak is the 'voice' for HFCC students to state government.' 

Woronchak was elected as Dearborn's state representative in November, 1998.  He was elected to a second term in November, 2000.  Woronchak currently is serving his third term in the state legislature, running unopposed for re-election in November, 2002.  He is a member of the following committees of the State House of Representatives:  Tax Policy, Health Policy, Senior Health, Security and Retirement, and Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security. 

Before being elected to represent the citizens of Dearborn in the state legislature, Woronchak spent nearly 25 years in the newspaper business as a journalist and newspaper editor.  For 23 years, he was a journalist for the Dearborn Press & Guide, a twice-weekly newspaper serving Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Woronchak served as editor of the Dearborn Press & Guide for 16 years. 

After leaving the Dearborn Press & Guide, he became managing editor of The Tribune, a 20,000-circulation daily based in Royal Oak serving Oakland County.   Woronchak also was host of Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido's monthly call-in cable television show, The Mayor's Forum, for 10 years, and before that hosted Capitol Connection, an issues-oriented call-in cable television show. 

Woronchak is a life-long Dearborn resident.  He attended Whitmore-Bolles Elementary School and Edison Junior High School, and is a graduate of Edsel Ford High School.  After high school, he attended Henry Ford Community College and then transferred to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in political science. 

Woronchak and his wife, Vivian, who is controller for a downriver manufacturing firm, have a daughter, Diana, who is an HFCC graduate