Barbara Saur and James Martin

Barbara Saur, a tireless community volunteer, and James R. Martin, a highly respected investment expert, are the 2012 Clark College Outstanding Alumni Award recipients.

Saur, Class of ’86, was 57 when she graduated from Clark College with a certificate in business technology. She was determined to re-enter the work force after an 11-year hiatus, and so began a decade-long career as mentor with Clark’s Women’s Programs. Saur was active in Clark’s Mature Learning Program and remained engaged upon her retirement in 1996. She has advocated for Al-Anon, volunteered with the HIV/AIDS program at Southwest Washington Health District, and served on the YWCA’s Women of Achievement committee—earning the honor herself in 2004.

Martin, Class of ’68 and chief investment officer for M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, has provided his expertise to many local foundations. He earned an associate degree in business accounting at Clark, and a bachelor’s in accounting at Eastern Washington University. Martin was recently named Small Foundation Manager of the Year by Institutional Investor. Martin currently serves on the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors and the Vancouver Rotary Foundation Investment Committee, and has been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs and Boy Scouts of America.

Saur and Martin will be honored at the annual Clark College Alumni-Student Dinner on Tuesday, June 5, in Gaiser Hall Student Center, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Wash. Tickets are available for $25. Register online here or contact Vivian Cheadle Manning at vmanning@clark.edu or 360-992-2104.