LANCASTER – Antelope Valley College’s Newton Chelette was honored this week as the City of Lancaster’s 2014 Citizen of the Year.
Chelette received the honor for his “dedication and numerous contributions to AVC and the Lancaster community,” according to city officials.
Since coming to Lancaster and Antelope Valley College in 1989, Chelette’s impact in the community has been continuous.
After 17 record-breaking seasons as Marauder Men’s Basketball coach, Chelette moved into the Athletic Director’s chair. In 2006, he was named Dean of the Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance and the Visual and Performing Arts divisions.
Chelette also spearheaded a fundraising effort for Coaches vs. Cancer that garnered more than $30,000 in the last two years for the American Cancer Society. The amount raised by AVC was more than four times the amount donated by any single California Community College’s athletic department.
Chelette serves on the Board of Directors for the Antelope Valley Boys and Girls Club, as well as the Los Angeles County Sheriff League (LACSL). In 2011, he was named director of the year by the LACSL and has been named to the Criminal Justice Commission for the City of Lancaster.
Chelette this year is the President of the California Community College Management Council. Chelette’s election as President highlights 25 years that he has represented Antelope Valley College and Marauder Athletics in some capacity at the state level.
In 2001, Chelette was inducted into the High Desert Men’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame Coaches. Chelette has been twice honored as State Basketball Coach of the Year, and in 2008, Chelette was inducted into the California Community College’s Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
