When Professor John A. Garcia served as political science department head, he left his office door open all the time.

During his 31 years at UA Garcia has made being approachable and accessible to students a priority.

"Some students who don't take my classes come and see me," he said. "So I am kind of a listening ear."

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) presented Garcia with the LULAC National Presidential Award for Outstanding Educators in America on Thursday at its 14th Annual Educators Banquet.

LULAC recognized Garcia for his contributions to the Tucson community and many years of service as an educator.

"John is a professor that has a big heart and his heart is for the love of education and of the community," said Ana Valenzuela, co-chair of the LULAC Youth Leadership Conference that preceded the awards banquet.

When he was department head, he said, ten to fifteen students came to see him each week. But it wasn't until Garcia spoke to a former department head that he found out he had more than the usual number of visitors. The former department head had only two or three students come to him every week, Garcia said.

"The more important thing is projecting a sense of being there and being available. The students pick up on that," he said.

Apart from his work at the UA, Garcia serves on the governing board for Edge Charter School, an alternative high school for youth, most of who are considered "at-risk." He has helped to set up five sites around Tucson, one of which is designed for young mothers or mothers-to-be.

He is active in Chicanos Por La Causa and the Young Adult LULAC organization on campus.

In the political arena, Garcia works with the Arizona Town Hall on policy documents involving Arizona-Sonora relations and Latinos in the community.

"I am the kind of person who has a lot of different interests," Garcia said. "I'm not sure Īno' is in my vocabulary."

Garcia said he does not work in the community for recognition, but he is pleased to be acknowledged.

"It has more meaning because it is being recognized for something you'd do anyways," Garcia said.

"We chose him because he is a leader in our education community," Valenzuela said.

During his time at the UA, Garcia has been involved with numerous boards and organizations that include roles as a researcher and director for the Mexican American Studies and Research Center, Faculty Senate member, and co- chair and member of the Committee on Academic and Tenure.

He has also been active in the Arizona Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, Open Mind (an organization the promotes diversity), and the Advisory Board of the Social and Behavioral Science Division of the National Science Foundation.

LULAC recognized other important educators in the Tucson community as well, including Pima Community College West Campus President Lucy Brajevich, Marana School District Superintendent Dr. Wade McLean and Tucson Police Chief Richard Miranda.

Scheduled special guests U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Congressman Raul Grijalva could not be present at the awards ceremony due to the beginning of war in Iraq.

In a letter to the high school students who attended the Youth Leadership Conference before the banquet, Carmona said, "I am very proud of you for being good students and good people."

More than 4,000 students attended the conference. The theme was: "Education is the key to success. Stay in school. Graduate."