The University of California, Davis, Cal Aggie Alumni Association has announced the recipients of its 2024 Alumni Awards, an annual program that recognizes remarkable impacts made by alumni and friends of the university.
This year鈥檚 winners are leaders in technology, health care, civil advocacy and higher education. All have dedicated their time and resources to create life-changing opportunities for students at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis and around the world.
The Cal Aggie Alumni Association, or CAAA, which serves more than 314,000 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis graduates, has chosen to honor:
- Aggie Service Award 鈥 Neptaly 鈥淭aty鈥 Aguilera 鈥73
- Emil M. Mrak International Impact Award 鈥 Adriana Gascoigne 鈥00
- Lifetime Achievement Award 鈥 Sandra Reed, M.D. 鈥85
- Distinguished Friends of the University 鈥 Cathy and Bob Kerr
鈥淭his year鈥檚 honorees are shining examples of how people can find their greatest fulfillment when they pursue their passions,鈥 said Dana Allen, assistant vice chancellor and executive director of CAAA. 鈥淭heir collective impacts have greatly served our campus, state, country and the world. We are excited to honor them and thank them for their roles in growing our abundant Aggie Pride.鈥
Aggie Service Award: Neptaly 鈥楾aty鈥 Aguilera
Aguilera first learned about activism as a student, sparking a passion that led to a 40-year civil-service career dedicated to fostering social justice and providing educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
Among his accomplishments, Aguilera was instrumental in organizing California鈥檚 first Equal Employment Opportunity conference and founding the Chicano Latino State Employees Association, the largest organization of its kind in the state. He also led efforts to bring the annual C茅sar Ch谩vez Youth Leadership Conference to 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis over 20 years ago.
Recently retired, Aguilera remains busier than ever. He serves as co-chair and co-founder of the University of California Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association and is the alumni representative to the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Office of the President鈥檚 Chicano Latino Advisory Council.
And Aguilera is deeply connected to his alma mater through volunteerism he often calls a 鈥渓abor of love.鈥 He is a member of the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Health Community Advisory Board and 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis鈥 Hispanic-Serving Institution Community Council, which seeks to boost recruitment, retention and graduation numbers among the Chicanx and Latinx student populations. From 2017 to 2023, Aguilera served on CAAA鈥檚 Board of Directors.
Emil M. Mrak International Impact Award: Adriana Gascoigne
Gascoigne is the founder and CEO of Girls in Tech, or GIT, a Nashville-based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the gender gap in tech. GIT boasts 35 chapters throughout the world and comprises an active, engaged community of more than 130,000 members. With hundreds of events and programs held throughout the year, GIT gives women everywhere access to learn new skills and advance their careers.
Through her leadership at GIT, Gascoigne has improved diversity in the tech workforce, encouraged policy change at government, corporate and community levels and inspired women to pursue any career they wish. She is also the author of Tech Boss Lady: How to Start-Up, Disrupt, and Thrive as a Female Founder and a board member on Harvard Kennedy School鈥檚 Women in Public Policy Program.
She was named one of the 20 most influential Latinos in technology by CNET in 2018. In 2022, she gave her time and talent as a panelist for the inaugural Women & Philanthropy Wisdom of Women Symposium at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Sandra L. Reed
Friends and colleagues describe Reed as a brilliant innovator in the medical field and one of the most generous servant leaders to 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis and beyond. Reed retired as a Navy medical doctor, and had previously served as an officer in the Marine Corps 鈥 a rarity for the branch of the military where even , women would make up just 10% of officers.
Between those two stints in the military, she earned her M.D. at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis, in 1985. She then completed a residency in internal medicine at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield and later began a fellowship at the VA in Martinez. She left the fellowship to serve in the Navy, where she completed her training in pulmonary and critical care medicine. During her career as a Navy physician, she worked at military bases and medical centers throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Helping students achieve their dreams has always been a priority for Reed, which is why she has supported the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis School of Medicine with the Sandra L. Reed, M.D. Award, which provides scholarships to veterans who are at the top of their class. She is also a passionate supporter of the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center and gives regularly to the School of Veterinary Medicine 鈥渋n gratitude for the four-legged companions who have enriched my life.鈥
Today Reed resides in Michigan, but still finds time to serve in volunteer leadership roles across the university. She chairs the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Health Campaign Board and is a member of the university鈥檚 Global Campaign Leadership Council. Reed also devotes her time as a trustee for the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Foundation. She previously served on the board of directors for the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis School of Medicine Alumni Association.
Distinguished Friends of the University: Cathy and Bob Kerr
Cathy and Bob Kerr embody Aggie Pride in everything they do. For more than 50 years, they have been engaged campus community members whose professional, personal, civic and philanthropic pursuits have made significant and lasting contributions to 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis.
Bob Kerr began his 42-year career at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis in 1972, serving in many administrative capacities and advancing 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis鈥 goals in critical areas such as housing, recreation, fundraising, alumni relations and international initiatives. Cathy Kerr鈥檚 long history of engagement with 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis has included working as a controller for Sodexo and University Dining Services for 30 years.
Longtime supporters of Athletics, particularly women鈥檚 basketball, the Kerrs are committed to the success of student-athletes and the entire program. Over 35 years ago, Bob Kerr became the PA announcer for women鈥檚 basketball home games, where he has been a fan-favorite ever since.
The Kerrs are also champions of the Arboretum and Public Garden, CAAA, Global Affairs, Manetti Shrem Museum, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts and multiple Student Affairs programs. They have created scholarships for studying abroad and expanded international alumni engagement.
Media Resources
Media Contact:
- Betsy Towner Levine, Development and Alumni Relations, 530-752-9693, etlevine@ucdavis.edu