WEST COAST HONORS
In March 2023, the Columbia College Alumni Association and Dean Josef Sorett kicked off the inaugural celebration and recognition with the West Coast Honors in San Francisco and Los Angeles. This new annual tradition saw more than 150 alumni and guests gather to recognize four outstanding Columbia College West Coast alumni for their professional accomplishments and for embodying the spirit of the west coast as well as pioneering service to Columbia College.
Each year, members of the CCWC community will receive the Spirit of Creativity and Innovation Award for exceptional professional achievement, and the Trailblazer Award for pioneering and distinguished service or volunteerism to the College. Understanding that many west coast alumni are unable to travel east to stay connected to Columbia College, CCWC will celebrate the West Coast community in the community.
2026 WEST COAST HONORS
March 19, 2026
Arc Beverly
9800 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Nominations close on Dec. 31, 2025.
PAST HONOREES
2025 TRAILBLAZER AWARD HONOREES
- Wah Chen CC’92
Affordable housing real estate developer; founder and partner at InSite Development - Wanda M. Holland Greene CC’89, TC’91, TC’21
Head of School at The Hamlin School
2025 SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY AWARD HONOREES
- Chloé Arnold CC’02 and Maud Arnold CC’08
Dancing, Choreographing and Producing Duo - Satyen Sangani CC’97
Co-Founder and CEO at Alation
2024 TRAILBLAZER AWARD HONOREES
- Lauren Accordino CC’09
Early-Stage Investor, Tech Coast Angels Venture Group and Faculty Advisor, UCLA Anderson - Christopher Jones CC’07
Chief Executive Officer, Suitebriar Inc.
2024 SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY AWARD HONOREES
- Melissa de la Cruz CC’93
New York Times Bestselling Author - Sean Duffy CC’06
Chief Executive Officer, Omada Health
2023 TRAILBLAZER AWARD HONOREES
- Vijay Mohan CC’01
Co-Founder and Partner, Sixth Street - James Stone CC’90
Head of West Coast Investment, PennantPark
2023 SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY AWARD HONOREES
- Courtney Lilly CC’97
Executive Producer/Showrunner, grown-ish, black-ish, and mixed-ish (ABC) - Marco Zappacosta CC’07
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Thumbtack