Who should be honored next? Let us know. Nominations due May 31. More.
Donald G. Fisher '50
Founder and Chairman Emeritus, The Gap
Alumnus of the Year
Donald G. Fisher, founder and chairman emeritus of Gap Inc., is a visionary in specialty retailing. Since its beginnings in 1969 as a jeans-only store in San Francisco, the company he started with his wife, Doris, has grown and expanded to become one of the world's best-known brands and largest specialty apparel retailers. More.
Natalie Coughlin '05
Olympic Gold Medalist
Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement
Natalie Coughlin is well known to all Cal folk, and especially Cal sports lovers, for her outstanding performance at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. She earned 5 medals and was the most decorated female athlete of the games. Her enthusiasm for her sport and for her alma mater was evident in everything from her press comments to her Cal swim cap. More.
Leroy Chiao '83
Mission Commander, NASA
Excellence in Achievement
Leroy Chiao is the 311th person in outer space and the first Asian and ethnic Chinese Mission Commander. An instrument-rated pilot, he has logged over 2700 flight hours in a variety of aircraft and spacecraft. During his fifteen year career with NASA, he spent more than 229 days in space—36 hours of which were spent in Extra Vehicular Activity spacewalks. More.
C. D. "Dan" Mote '59, M.S. '60, Ph.D. '63
President, University of Maryland
Excellence in Achievement
C. D. "Dan" Mote, Jr. spent most of his life in Berkeley. He attended two grammar schools there, earned three degrees in mechanical engineering at Cal, and spent 31 years on the faculty. He was chair of the mechanical engineering department, held an endowed chair in Mechanical Systems and then became vice chancellor for university relations. More.
Susan Solomon, M.S. '79, Ph.D. '81
Senior Scientist, NOAA
Excellence in Achievement
She is world-renowned for her research on chlorofluorocarbons and the expansion of the ozone hole over the Antarctic. She received her masters and doctorate degrees at Cal in chemistry in the late 70's, at a time when it was still considered uncommon for women to be studying advanced science. More.
Caroline Kane, Ph.D. '79
Biochemist and Professor, University of California, Berkeley
Excellence in Service
Caroline Kane is a nationally-known biochemist who is currently studying gene expression, transcription elongation, and genome replication. Her work is helping lead the big wave of bioscience, biotech and genomic breakthroughs expected at UC Berkeley in the next decade. Kane's academics are impeccable and impressive. More.
Gloria Diaz Ventura '00
Founder and Executive Director, ACCION
Brad King Award for Excellence in Service
Ventura is dedicated to educational equity and the advancement of Chicano/Latinos. Ventura is founder and executive director of ACCION, a nonprofit organization that prepares low-income Latino students, and their parents, for college. More.
Berkeley Chinese Alumni International Association
Outstanding Club of the Year
In the few years since BAIAC formed, the club has excelled in networking, advocacy, mentorship and leadership development. Many of BCAIA's activities facilitate academic, cultural and business ties between students, alumni and business professionals, and between UC Berkeley and Greater China. More.
