UC Davis' annual diversity celebration is 18 years old and still soaring. Or, to be more precise, Soaring to New Heights, which is what the celebration is called.

This year's event took place April 8, drawing more than 500 people to Freeborn Hall for an information fair, entertainment and buffet lunch, as well as the presentation of Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Awards.

Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef joined Rahim Reed, associate executive vice chancellor, in acknowledging diversity as a driving force at UC Davis. Or, as Reed's Office of Campus Community Relations declares in its new theme: "Building Community and Excellence Through Diversity."

Reed handed out 18 Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Awards, and retired Police Chief Calvin Handy presented the leadership award named after him. The honorees are as follows, with information from the Soaring to New Heights program:

Individual awards

Mary Bankston, associate director, Financial Aid — Honored for never overlooking the diversity of her staff, and their cultures and ethnic traditions. At a staff retreat, for example, she acknowledged the home countries of all of the men and women in the department. "This was a great start to the event because it opened the door for people who wanted to share their experiences," according to her nominators.

Besides Thanksgiving and Christ-mas, Bankston endeavors to recognize such holidays as Diwali, a significant event in Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. And she organizes international potlucks.

Gary Stewart, head coach, men's basketball, and lecturer — Honored for recruiting student-athletes from all communities, and fostering leadership in his recruits on and off the court. "Many of these student-athletes have become student leaders at UC Davis who in turn have led student-organized groups actively involved in diversity and affirmative action."

Stewart serves as a mentor to minority student-athletes, past and present, outside of the men's basketball program.

Special citations

Catherine Kudlick, professor, history — In her scholarly work, teaching and service, she challenges the "pathology" model that views disability as a deficit. Last year she designed and taught a disability history course at UC Davis, one of the first such courses in the United States. She helped in the founding of the UC system's Disability Studies Consortium.

Riché Richardson, associate professor, English — She participates frequently on panels designed to help minority students in their careers and has served as the Davis campus representative for the UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. "She is an energetic ... advocate for African American achievements, scholarly and artistic, in our community."

Department-team award

Fourteen people from several units shared this award for organizing Student Affairs Officers of the Future, a program aimed at cultivating a diverse pool of talented and motivated staff interested in becoming student affairs officers.

The program developers: Griselda Castro, Student Affairs; Diane Adams, Education Abroad Center; Kelly Crabtree, Carina Celesia Moore, Mick Dill and Chuck Yannacone, Staff Development and Professional Services; Ed Dagang, Medical Education, UC Davis Health System; Michele Fulton, dean's office, College of Engineering; Patricia Gray and Susan Summers, Human Resources; Cathy Jurado, Graduate Studies; Anne Moyer and Sheila Walker, dean's office, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and Paula Driver Shimada, WorkLife.

The team developed a 10-month program focused on six core competencies, including commitment to diversity, and chose a diverse group of trainers and mentors. With good advertising, the team drew a diverse pool of applicants for SAOs of the Future.

Calvin E. Handy Leadership Award

Michelle Famula, director, Cowell Student Health Center; and the Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition — After alcohol poisoning claimed a student's life in 2000, Famula gathered campus and city of Davis representatives to address alcohol and drug issues affecting UC Davis students, and Davis youths and their families.

The coalition that emerged is still going strong, promoting such efforts as the Safe Party Initiative, the junior high school health education curriculum, responsible beverage service practices and the city's open container ordinance. In addition, the coalition assists with Davis Neighbors Night Out, Picnic Day, Summer Advising and various health seminars.

As a result, more students who drink are doing so more responsibly, said UC Davis police Lt. Nader Oweis, who nominated Famula and the coalition for the award. Their efforts, he said, also have led to enhanced neighborhood relationships and enhanced collaboration between the working groups.