Quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan of the San Francisco 49ers will share the spotlight with champions working for sustainable agriculture in Brazil, an economy run on hydrogen, and the sound financial footing of students as the University of California, Davis, honors alumni on Saturday, Jan. 24.

The Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) invites the public to attend the Centennial Alumni Awards Gala, including an alumni winemaker reception, dinner and silent auction in Freeborn Hall.

In addition to O'Sullivan, of San Diego, the other award winners include:

• Ronald Schuler of Lincoln, Calif.;
• Zelma R. Long of Healdsburg, Calif.;
• John Landers of Lago Sul, Brazil;
• Catherine T. "Katie" Hunt of Ambler, Pa.; and
• Robert "Bobby" Woods of Sacramento, Calif.

J.T. O'Sullivan of San Diego -- O'Sullivan '01 is the recipient of the Young Alumnus Award, which honors outstanding professional contributions to the community or to UC Davis within 10 years of graduation. O'Sullivan, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, enjoyed a stellar football career at UC Davis. He has since played for teams in the National Football League and began the 2008 season as starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. O'Sullivan continues to promote the success of UC Davis athletics. He also helps recruit student-athletes, helped support the building of Aggie Stadium, has contributed memorabilia to the Aggie Auction and recently sponsored a post-game meal for the football team.

Ronald Schuler of Lincoln, Calif. -- Schuler '60, a retired president and chief executive officer of the California Canning Peach Association, will be awarded the Jerry W. Fielder Memorial Award for extraordinary service to CAAA, the UC Davis Foundation and the university. He has served on both the UC Davis Foundation board of trustees and the Cal Aggie Alumni Association board of directors. Schuler, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agronomy, has spent more than 20 years as a member of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean's Advisory Council and serves as a valued liaison between the agricultural community and the university. Most recently, his commitment to UC Davis helped raise $2.5 million for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing and Food Science Laboratory in the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.

Zelma R. Long of Healdsburg, Calif. -- Long, who pursued graduate studies in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, is the recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award for exemplary conduct and achievement. Now owner of Long Vineyards and Zelphi Wines, she began her distinguished career at Robert Mondavi Winery, where she spent 10 years as chief enologist. At Simi Winery, she served as vice president/winemaker and president before being named chief executive officer in 1990. Long later became executive vice president of Chandon Estates. She is a former member of the UC Davis Foundation board of trustees, and Long Vineyards has been a major supporter of the Department of Viticulture and Enology.

John Landers of Lago Sul, Brazil -- Landers '65, director of the Zero Tillage Farmers Association in the Central Savannah of Brazil, has won the Emil M. Mrak International Award for his distinguished career and service outside the United States. He is known for his many contributions toward protecting the environment and promoting sustainable agriculture in South America. His ideas and teachings on zero-tillage farming have helped to prevent soil erosion and reduce greenhouse gases from agricultural areas. Under Landers' leadership, Brazilian soil scientists have developed and promoted zero tillage and other soil conservation technologies in the Cerrado region. Landers, who earned a master's degree in irrigation, has published his findings in international scientific journals and was honored by his peers at the XVII Brazilian Meeting of Soil and Water Conservation in Rio de Janeiro in August 2008.

Catherine T. "Katie" Hunt of Ambler, Pa. -- Hunt '81, a corporate sustainability director at specialty materials company Rohm and Haas, will be presented with the Outstanding Alumna Award for displaying outstanding achievement, promoting innovative change and making professional contributions to the community and to UC Davis. She recently worked on a U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Challenge, spearheading a team of two national labs, four companies and seven universities, one of which was UC Davis. She wrote the proposal that helped win a $25 million grant to establish the Department of Energy's Chemical Hydrogen Storage Center of Excellence. Hunt, who earned a doctorate in chemistry, has been an active member of the Council for Chemical Research and is the immediate past president of the American Chemical Society.

Robert "Bobby" Woods of Sacramento, Calif. -- Woods '76, a real estate consultant and executive vice president for Finance InnerCity Housing Corp., will be awarded the Aggie Service Award in recognition of his recent dedication of time, energy, volunteerism and leadership in support of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and UC Davis. His current positions have given him the chance to offer sound financial advice to students and alumni alike. As president of the African and African American Alumni Association, he leads a workshop series for students about the fundamentals of money management. Woods, who earned a B.A. in psychology, has also helped to plan an annual symposium and wine tasting at Black Family Day.

The alumni association will also award Citations for Excellence to alumni whose accomplishments have been recognized by their college, school or program. For a complete list of recipients, please visit http://www.alumni.ucdavis.edu/awards or call the alumni association at (800) 242-4723.

The reception and silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and awards ceremony following at 7 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets or a table, please contact event organizer Jennifer Thayer at (530) 754-9098 or jsthayer.edu.

With more than 28,000 members in 44 countries, the Cal Aggie Alumni Association creates ambassadors for UC Davis and enriches the lives of alumni, students and friends worldwide.

About UC Davis

For 100 years, UC Davis has engaged in teaching, research and public service that matter to California and transform the world. Located close to the state capital, UC Davis has 31,000 students, an annual research budget that exceeds $500 million, a comprehensive health system and 13 specialized research centers. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges -- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science -- and advanced degrees from five professional schools: Education, Law, Management, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine. The UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Davis Medical Center are located on the Sacramento campus near downtown.