They Made a Difference: Group Honors Multicultural Alumni
A founder of the University of Washington's Educational Opportunity Program and a longtime community leader in Latino and migrant health care issues are among this year's alumni and friends who will receive awards at the Multicultural Alumni Partnership's "Bridging the Gap" Breakfast on Nov. 2.
Distinguished Alumnus Awards will be presented to: Bill Hilliard, '71; Walter B. Hollow, '75, '78; Gloria Rodriguez; and The Breakfast Group, a Seattle non-profit civic organization dedicated to leadership and community. Frank Irigon, '76, '79, will receive the Dr. Samuel E. Kelly Award.
The Multicultural Alumni Partnership will present awards to (left to right) Frank Irigon, Ernie Dunston (president of the Breakfast Group), Bill Hilliard and Walt Hollow during UW Homecoming festivities. Award winner Gloria Rodriguez was not able to attend the photo session. Photo by Mary Levin.
Now in its sixth year, the award program has honored many UW alumni who have made a difference to their communities, such as artist Alfredo Arreguin, '67, '69; philanthropist and UW Regent William H. Gates, '49, '50; former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, '72, '74; and Northwest Asian Weekly Publisher Assunta Ng, '74, '79.
The Multicultural Alumni Partnership supports recruitment and mentoring of students, faculty and staff of color, while promoting diversity within both the UW and the UW Alumni Association. The group also awards student scholarships.
Among this year's honorees, Hilliard played a major role in the development of the UW's Educational Opportunity Program as assistant vice president for minority affairs from 1968-75. He developed the program's first operations manual and admissions committee. He currently is the coordinator of the Male Involvement and Services to Encourage Responsibility program for the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.
Hollow, a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes, became the first Native American to graduate from the UW School of Medicine in 1975. Director of the Native American Center of Excellence and a clinical associate professor of medicine at the UW, he has been instrumental in developing curriculum that focuses on Native American health issues. Last year he received a community service award from the National Medical Fellowships for his work in underserved communities.
Rodriguez has devoted her career to health care issues for the Pacific Northwest's Latino population. She is director and administrator of the Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers, has served as assistant director of the state Department of Labor and Industries, manager of the King County Department of Public Health and administrator of Sea Mar Community Health. She has also been a leader in mentoring Latinos in the health professions through the Chicano Latino Mentor Network.
The Breakfast Group brings together 80 business and professional African-American men for community service and to provide economic development through leadership. The group sponsors the annual Tie-One-On Luncheon to recognize 75 male students from Seattle alternative high schools and the Seattle Vocational Institute and encourage them to continue their education beyond high school. It also stages the All Achievers Award Banquet, recognizing 100 African-American young men from 14 public high schools. Students are honored for their academic performance, attendance, community service and athletic accomplishments, and receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000.
A native of the Philippines, Irigon is a renowned community activist. He served as executive director of the International District Health Clinic, founded the Asian Family Affair newspaper, developed anti-violence and anti-gang programs and mentor programs for at-risk minority youth at the Center for Career Alternatives. He also chaired a committee that fought King County's decision to build the Kingdome on the western edge of the International District in the 1970s, and led a march that resulted in the funding of low-income housing in the International District.
Alumni and friends are invited to the MAP awards breakfast, held during Homecoming at 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, in the HUB Ballroom. For reservations, visit the MAP Web site or call (206) 543-3839. For more information on the Multicultural Alumni Partnership, call (206) 543-0540 or 1-800-AUW-ALUM.
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