The UC Davis community gathered Tuesday (April 19) for the campus’s largest celebration of diversity: Soaring to New Heights. It originated 21 years ago with the establishment of the Principles of Community.

At midday, some 550 people converged on Freeborn Hall for an international buffet, an information fair and entertainment — and the presentation of the Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Awards.

In recent years, Soaring to New Heights also has been the venue for the presentation of the Calvin E. Handy leadership Award, named after the retired police chief; and the Disability Awareness Recognition Awards.

The Handy award was not presented this year, but the chief still made an appearance — playing tenor sax with his Jazz Patrol band. The entertainment lineup also included two student dance groups: the Bollywood Dance Group and the Nigerian Student Dance Group.

Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Awards

Individual awards

• Peter Blando, business service manager, Information and Educational Technology, and chair, Staff Assembly — “Overall, Peter models inclusive behavior, works to provide opportunities and important policy changes for staff members on campus, and his efforts positively impact the larger campus community as well as the communities in the surrounding region.” He participated in the planning and development of the campus’s action plan in response to last year’s graffiti vandalism at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, and he assists in adapting information for noncomputer users and for those who speak English as a second language.

• Elias Lopez, director, Analysis and Information Services, Administrative and Resource Management, and former interim director, Student Affairs research and Information — “Elias’ knowledge and collaborative style has ensured that the message regarding college preparation has reached tens of thousands of Latino families.” Through a partnership with Adelante Media Group (formerly Bustos Media), he assisted in developing the messaging for a radio advertising campaign and worked with a Spanish-language radio host to arrange interviews with UC Davis faculty. “His commitment to underrepresented students and their families is helping to develop a college-going culture in the Latino community and creating a connection to UC Davis.”

• Vajra Watson, student affairs officer, Center for Cooperative Research and Extension Services for Schools, or CRESS — “Through Vajra’s leadership and outreach efforts, a greater nexus to UC Davis has been established for diverse students in K-12.” She has forged “a unique path” that marries the intellectual resources of the academy with the creative and economic power of the nonprofit and private sectors throughout the greater Sacramento region. Over three years, she built Sacramento Area Youth Speaks, or SAYS, a program for educationally at-risk youths in the greater Sacramento region. Last year she introduced the Sacramento Regional Equity Summit, a forum for community and school-based educators, law enforcement and policymakers to forge alliances and gain greater understanding about how to address the barriers to student achievement.

Community service award

• Ona Olito, programmer-analyst, UC Davis Extension — For the past four years, she has contributed her time and energy to the Wayfarer Center, a Woodland shelter for homeless people. She started cooking and serving on weekends and is now a mainstay: You can find her there every third Tuesday.

Team award and faculty citation

A faculty citation and the team award went to Michelle Igo, associate professor, and the Microbiology Lab Team for going “above and beyond” to provide an inclusive lab experience for a student who uses a wheelchair. The team comprises Carlos de la Cruz, lab mechanician, Microscope Services; Julita Medejska, graduate assistant; Robin Schmidt, mechanician helper; and Catherine Strong and Angela Wapner, staff research associates who work in the prep room.

They coordinated the construction of a special cart to hold a microscope in an accessible position, and a cutout in the rail below a lab bench, so that the student’s wheelchair could fit under the bench top; and modified and adapted a microscope and other equipment.

(The Soaring to New Heights program noted a second faculty citation, in connection with the retrofitting of the microbiology lab, but the faculty member asked not to be recognized.)

Deanna Falge Award (recognizing someone for ongoing — five years or more — contributions toward the furthering of UC Davis's affirmative action-equal opportunity or diversity objectives)

• Moira Delgado, education specialist, Sexual Harassment Education Program — Besides working for the Sexual Harassment Education Program, Delgado volunteers with the Diversity Education Program’s Trainers Institute, where she trains the trainers. In addition, she leads “Life Skills Through Yoga,” promoting social justice through the art of yoga. Previously, she managed outreach programs for the School of Law, where she developed new and creative ways to reach underrepresented communities.

Eleanor Fontes-Fulton Award (for career achievement in the promotion of diversity and inclusivity)

• Phyllis Thomas, executive assistant to the associate executive vice chancellor for Campus Community Relations, and member of the Staff Diversity Administrative Advisory Committee — “Phyllis’ long history of activism and collaboration on various campus committees has been instrumental in fostering a more inclusive campus climate.” She has been involved in the planning of Soaring to New Heights and Principles of Community Week, and has held every office in the African American Faculty and Staff Association. She is a previous recipient of the Deanna Falge Award (2009), the African Continuum Outstanding Staff Member Award (2002), and the Chancellor’s Affirmative Action and Diversity Achievement Award (2001).

Disability Awareness Recognition Awards

• Sasha Ferreira, associate program coordinator, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, University Outreach and International Programs — For her efforts on behalf of a visiting international scholar with a disability, identifying transportation options and accessibility within the campus environment. Ferreira “truly exemplifies the Principles of Community, ensuring that this individual would have full access to the Davis campus and surrounding community.”

• Loren Jenkins, supervisor, Mail Services — For his efforts that led to modified duty and the re-engineering of a workstation for an employee with a disability. Then, when the employee could no longer work, even with accommodations, Jenkins worked tirelessly in soliciting donations of catastrophic leave for the employee.

• Susan Kennedy-DuHain, manager, Administration and Resource Management — For demonstrated leadership in the area of reasonable accommodation, always ensuring that managers and supervisors are fully aware and clearly understand their obligations to engage in the interactive process and provide effective and timely reasonable accommodations. “Susan superbly fosters diversity and inclusiveness in the work place by her significant efforts.”

• Mary Kitchen, chief administrative officer, Department of Food Science and Technology — For proactive efforts to provide a permanent reassignment, as a reasonable accommodation, for one of her employees. Kitchen also is being honored for her “gracious willingness” to provide modified duty to an employee from another department, at the request of Disability Management Services and the Workers Compensation Unit.

• Sue Russell, assistant director, Center for Health and the Environment, and chief financial officer, John Muir Institute for the Environment — “Sue has not only demonstrated exceptional awareness, but a straight- forward attitude” in helping a faculty member “face and overcome the barriers presented by a disability.” Russell also shows compassion and empathy by always considering how to help the faculty member continue to work with dignity and with as much self direction as possible.

• Connie Smith, senior admissions adviser, Undergraduate Admissions — For thoughtful compassion and professionalism during an extremely challenging, complex and lengthy reasonable accommodation process for an employee. Smith worked closely with Disability Management Services to come up with workable solutions and alternatives, such as a telecommute schedule for the employee, and coached and mentored the employee throughout the entire process.

Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi presents the Chancellor's Awards for Diversity and Community.