A former NASA physicist and current Copper Mountain College teacher was honored as “Professor of the Year” at the Twentynine Palms Rotary Club meeting of May 29.
Ramon Abrego III, Dean of Instruction, Distance Education, and Learning Resources introduced the honoree, Professor of physics and astronomy, John Watkins.
Abrego said Watkins’ impact on the college and the community has been remarkable. He said that Watkins’ advocacy for astronomy recently resulted in seeing the “Sky’s The Limit” site on Utah Trail near the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park become an official satellite campus for the college. He also has introduced astronomy to local Junior and High School students. Described as “an amazing colleague who is always willing to help out,” Abrego said Watkins is “connected to good things happening at CMC”.
Watkins, who started teaching 15 years ago, moved to the Morongo Basin from Los Angeles, where he was a physicist for NASA.
The Twentynine Palms Rotary club, founded in 1948, has been honoring local educators for their positive impacts on their students and communities.The local club meets Wednesdays at noon at the Little Church of the desert meeting room.
