The fact that UC Davis "proudly embraces excellence and diversity and sees no contradiction" was demonstrated last week when staff and faculty members were honored for their roles in contributing to diversity. Thanks to the energetic work by the Staff Affirmative Action and Diversity Advisory Committee, two major events were held. One was the ninth annual Affirmative Action and Diversity Achievement Awards luncheon March 22 and the other was "Soaring to New Heights," a campuswide diversity celebration held at Freeborn Hall on March 25. University Relations Vice Chancellor Celeste Rose, who was the guest speaker at the awards luncheon, pointed out that UC Davis is a world-class university unrivaled within and without the University of California. Two reasons for this, she said, are the campus emphasis on promoting dignity and respect through "The Principles of Community" (the campus statement of values developed in 1990) and the campus celebrations of the rich backgrounds and contributions of its many members. "Although we share the same space and time, the reality of people of color is different," Rose said. She said that the campus finds no contradiction between excellence and diversity. In regards to the debate over affirmative action, Rose called for a restorative and healing tone and challenged her audience to build positive relations with other individuals, groups and the larger community that "become part of our habit of mind." Those receiving diversity awards this year are as follows. The Deanna Falge Award This prestigious award went to William Fowler Jr., professor emeritus of physical medicine and rehabilitation in the School of Medicine, and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in Neuromuscular Diseases. Fowler established the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in Neuromuscular Diseases in 1983. More than 20 years ago, Fowler led a very small group of faculty members to successfully challenge barriers that excluded disabled students from the UC Davis School of Medicine and residency program. Serving as center director from 1983 until 1995, he established a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program of research, training and information services to enhance the quality of lives of persons with neuromuscular and other diseases. He continues to play an active role as a science and policy adviser to the center, which is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, a division of the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. Individual awards Michele Dyke, a regional coordinator for the Early Academic Outreach Program, was honored for her activities as a member of the African Continuum, a group of students, staff and faculty who jointly sponsor African and African American cultural and leadership events and activities. She was a leader in organizing the 1998 African American Students, Staff and Faculty Leadership Conference. John Ortiz-Hutson, coordinator for African American student affairs and African American and African Studies, was recognized for working tirelessly to ensure that the Davis campus becomes more accepting of people from diverse backgrounds, particularly those of African descent. He provides critical leadership for students who organize the African American graduation celebrations. He is also the adviser for the African American Quarterly, a student-produced newsletter that communicates issues and cultural information and identifies achievements of African American students. He was also instrumental in orchestrating several cultural events at the African Diaspora House. Rebecca Williams, the senior undergraduate staff adviser for the Department of Sociology, was honored for her ability to be patient, firm and encouraging with undergraduate students while helping them to meet the challenges of college life. She fosters an inclusive and supportive community for showing students of color and is also a role model for how individuals can acknowledge diversity in creating and maintaining a working environment that is professional, productive and fun. Special citations Arturo Gandara, professor of law, was honored for his teaching and public service. In his classes, Gandara focuses on the impact of the law on poor and minority communities. As the chair of the Pacific Bell Universal Task Force, he has sought to ensure universal telephone service for all of the state's diverse, poverty-stricken communities. Gandara also serves as an adviser to La Raza Law Students Association, the Native American Law Students and the Public Interest Law Program. Through his guidance, support and actions, he has successfully reinforced a sense of community among his students. He has also served for two years on his school's admissions committee. Kommah (Koko) Johnson, a fifth-year senior described as "one of the most active and energetic leaders on this campus," was honored for her leadership activities that promote diversity awareness. She has been involved in the planning process for the annual Kwanzaa Program for three consecutive years and is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. She is the co-chair for the 1999 multicultural step show. Johnson is also involved in the development of activities that will promote campus outreach and retention activities during Black Family Week and Black Family Day and is a member of the UC Davis Gospel Choir. Jennifer Myhre, in her fourth year of graduate studies in sociology, was honored, among other reasons, for committing a large portion of a course that she teaches to challenging students to think about race and structural inequality. She has worked as a teaching assistant, a lecturer and a teaching assistant coordinator. Myhre is concerned about the retention of students of color at UC Davis and committed to the goals of diversity in graduate education. As a member of a Graduate Sociology Students Association subcommittee, she worked with the committee members to design a survey tool to survey graduate students of color who chose to leave the program. Damaris Solano, who works in the Student Aid Accounting Department, received an award for her role as a driving force in the UC Davis Hispanic Staff Association's revitalization plan. Solano has been recruiting members, enhancing communication to the membership and the campus, developing an informational Web page and coordinating fund-raising efforts. In addition, she contributed more than 150 hours to organize a series of association-hosted workshops on financial aid, public speaking, nutrition and single parenting. Catherine Vandevoort, an associate adjunct professor with the California Regional Primate Research Center, was awarded for her work on the School of Medicine's admission process for more than seven years. Her efforts have resulted in a diverse group of future physicians. Most noteworthy is her development of an applicant assessment tool. After reviewing hundreds of files of current medical students, applicants to the medical school and graduates of the school of medicine, she discovered common multiple variables found in the backgrounds and life experiences of applicants from educationally and financially disadvantaged backgrounds. She then created the framework for a SCANTRON form used by each applicant to summarize his or her accomplishments apart from the classroom and the life experiences. The admissions committee uses the student self-evaluations with additional application materials to identify individuals for the limited number of interviews conducted each year. Marty West, professor of law, already the first recipient of the Deanna Falge Award for continuous efforts in the area of affirmative action, was once again recognized for her commitment to diversity and equity within the Davis community. She has worked to educate generations of future attorneys about the law of affirmative action. West has organized speakers, facilitated discussions and sponsored student events to promote diversity. Outside the classroom she has spoken widely about the need for gender equity and diversity in public employment and education. She also helped establish a cooperative child-care program at the law school by raising funds, arranging for inspections and assuming responsibility for its establishment. This center allows parenting students to attend law school and invites fellow law students to participate in the care of the infants. The departmental award This year the recipient was the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in Neuromuscular Diseases, whose singular purpose is to enable people disabled by neuromuscular diseases and other conditions such as postpolio syndrome to continue to attend school, enter the work force and participate in community and family life. The program provides knowledge and information that helps individuals with disabilities to reach their highest possible level of functional independence. The center team is a coalition of researchers with affiliations that include the Division of Education, the Department of Psychology and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The center has provided numerous educational employment and training opportunities for underrepresented minorities, including women, people of color and disabled individuals. As a campus organization with deep ties in the Davis community, the organization's community involvement includes co-sponsoring conferences with local nonprofit agencies to promote community awareness of disability issues.