Alumni Association Announces Award Recipients

Awards Banquet honorees include Gene Lucas, Robert & Lynn Koegel and Michael Towbes

The 2011 UCSB Alumni Association Awards Banquet, scheduled for Friday night, April 29, 2011, will honor Gene Lucas, Executive Vice Chancellor for UCSB, Robert and Lynn Koegel of the Koegel Autism Research Center, and Michael Towbes, founder and chair of Montecito Bank & Trust.

Graver Service Award
The Graver Service Award is given to a graduate or former student who has successfully completed 12 quarter hours of work at UCSB or its predecessor institutions (UCSBC, Santa Barbara State College, Santa Barbara State Teachers College) and demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the University through direct and meaningful involvement with Association-related activities.

Gene Lucas, Executive Vice Chancellor, UC Santa Barbara

Gene Lucas, class of 1973, has been a visionary leader at UC Santa Barbara during some of its most difficult challenges. As the chief academic officer on campus he has guided the campus to the highest tiers of research universities from around the world. His work on the Long Range Development Plan has ensured that UC Santa Barbara will be a premier research institution well into the future. In recognition of his service to UC Santa Barbara and the Alumni Association, Gene Lucas has been named the 2011 recipient of the Chuck Graver University Service Award.

Honorary and Distinguished Awards

The Honorary Alumni Award is given to a non-alumnus/alumna of UCSB. The nominee must be a friend of UCSB or its predecessor institutions (UCSBC, Santa Barbara State College, Santa Barbara State Teachers College) whose dedication and commitment has significantly enriched the substance and contributed to the reputation of UCSB as one of the nation's leading universities. The nominee must have attained significant professional or personal accomplishments and demonstrated exceptional integrity and character.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to a graduate or former student who has successfully completed 12 quarter hours of work at UCSB or its predecessor institutions (UCSBC, Santa Barbara State College, Santa Barbara State Teachers College). The nominee must have achieved outstanding recognition in his/her field of endeavor.

Robert and Lynn Koegel, Koegel Autism Research Center

Robert and Lynn Koegel launched what is now considered one of the foremost research centers in the world for the study of autism. It has received national recognition from the National Academy of Sciences while working with patients from around the world. Lynn Koegel, Ph.D. class of 1993, has written one of the seminal books on the treatment of autism, “Overcoming Autism.” Their center inside the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education is one of the most important training clinics for professionals treating autism around the world. For their service to the greater community and distinguished work Robert Koegel has been named a recipient of an Honorary Alumni Award and Lynn Koegel has been named the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Michael Towbes, founder and chair Montecito Bank & Trust

Michael Towbes is a philanthropist whose generosity has had a major impact on the culture and quality of life of the greater Santa Barbara community. A member of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board of Trustees, Towbes has also been a generous donor to the campus. He has served as a board member and the chair of the UC Santa Barbara-based Economic Forecast Project. In recognition of his philanthropy and contribution to UC Santa Barbara Michael Towbes has been named a recipient of the 2011 Honorary Alumni Award.

Title Sponsor Announced for Taste of UCSB

We are excited to announce that Village Properties is the Title Sponsor for the Taste of UCSB. Check out their website at villagesite.com!

Don't forget to register for this year's event! You don't want to miss out on this fabulous weekend. Register at http://ucsb.imodules.com/2011AGR

Registration Now Available

Registration for this year's event is now up! Register for a great weekend at http://ucsb.imodules.com/2011AGR

Don't miss out on all the Gaucho festivities!

DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2011 UCSB RUNNING SERIES

UCSB Alumni Association attempts to outpace last year's record of $10,000 raised for student scholarships

(Santa Barbara, CA) - The UCSB Running Series is back and according to event organizers, the 2011 version promises to be even better than 2010's. In addition to the individual competitions, the race series features a unique team challenge that pits between five and nine individuals against other teams with the top five "scoring" for team bragging rights. Proceeds of all three races will benefit the UCSB Alumni Association Student Scholarship Fund. The UCSB Running Series has raised nearly $20,000 for student scholarships at UCSB since 2008, with $10,000 given in 2010 alone.

The first race in the series, Romeo's 4 Miler, set for January 29, 2011, brings back a cherished Santa Barbara running tradition: the Couples Relay. Here couples compete against other couples over a four mile distance with each person doing one mile loop before handing off to the other. The Shamrock 5 Miler, to be held on March 12, 2011, brings runners to the beautiful but rarely visited West Campus of UCSB, while also allowing participants to sample the "wild" streets of Isla Vista. Finally, the Gaucho Gallop will kick off the 5th annual All Gaucho Reunion in dramatic fashion on April 30, 2011. The All Gaucho Reunion, a weekend full of social events, lectures and of course reunions, will bring an estimated 6,000 UCSB alumni and friends back to campus.

TASTE OF UCSB UNVEILED

Due to the success of the Alumni Vintner's Tasting events, we have decided to (in true Gaucho style) go bigger and better. Join Ole and the rest of us on Saturday, April 30th for the Taste of UCSB. Featuring food, wine, beer and other goodies produced by some of UCSB's finest alumni. Further details will be posted soon.

-Your UCSB Alumni Association

SAVE THE DATE!
5th Annual All Gaucho Reunion to happen April 29 - May 1, 2011

(Santa Barbara, CA) - The UCSB Alumni Association has announced the dates for the 5th Annual All Gaucho Reunion to be April 29 - May 1, 2011. The schedule includes the 3rd annual Alumni Vintners Tasting, Gaucho Gallop, Alumni Association Awards Banquet, Golden Gaucho Reunion Luncheon and much more. For updated information, be sure to check out www.ucsbalum.com/agr.

UCSB ALUMNI HONOR DIGITAL INSTRUMENTS FOUNDER VIRGIL ELINGS

Awards spotlight service and work of Virgil Elings, Betty Elings Wells, Hank Pitcher, Lynn Reitnouer and Bill Villa

The UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association will honor philanthropists Virgil Elings and Betty Elings Wells as Honorary Alumni at its Awards Banquet during the All Gaucho Reunion in April.
Honorees will also include artist Hank Pitcher, ’71, Crowell, Weedon & Company senior partner Lynn Reitnouer, ’55, and former UCSB Director of Admissions Bill Villa, ’69, for their generous work and service to the university.
Virgil Elings and Betty Elings Wells will be recognized for their partnership in the philanthropic support of the California NanoSystems Institute at UC Santa Barbara.
Virgil Elings is a former UCSB professor of physics who made fundamental contributions leading to the scientific revolution at the nanoscale. In 1987, he co-founded Digital Instruments, the first company to make the power of atomic scanning probe microscopy readily available to scientists, a critical starting point in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
During their marriage, Betty Elings Wells was a real estate investor and business partner with her former husband, Virgil Elings. Together, they launched numerous entrepreneurial ventures, including Digital Instruments, where she was office manager and secretary of the corporation.
Pitcher will be recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus for his long career as an artist, which began at UCSB’s College of Creative Studies. Pitcher is best known as a painter of California beach culture, and has had several exhibits and published several books of art. He began teaching art at the College of Creative Studies as soon as he graduated, and became a tenured professor of art in 1996.
Reitnouer will be honored with the Graver Service Award for his work as a trustee of the UCSB Foundation since 1992. He served as board chairman from 1997-1998. He also was the chairman of the Chancellor’s Council from 1993-1995. Reitnouer currently serves as steering committee co-chair of the Campaign for UC Santa Barbara, which has raised $562 million since its inception in 2000.
Villa will receive the Graver Service Award for recognition of his contributions to the campus and its students. Villa served as associate director of the EOP office early on, and then moved to the Admissions office in 1977 as director. He spent 23 years in Admissions, working to diversify the campus’s undergraduate student population.
The 2010 Alumni Association Awards Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 23 at Corwin Pavilion, UC Santa Barbara University Center. A no-host reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $90. Blue table reservations are $800. Gold table reservations are $1,000 and receive two bottles of wine. Each table seats eight. To make reservations, register at www.ucsbalum.com/agr or contact Mary MacRae at (805) 893-2957 or e-mail mary.macrae@ia.ucsb.edu.

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If you’d like more information about this topic, please call Mary MacRae at (805) 893-2957 or e-mail Mary at mary.macrae@ia.ucsb.edu.

For reporter, photographer or videographer access to this event, please contact Andrea Huebner at (805) 893-4077 or andrea.huebner@ia.ucsb.edu.

Dioji Dog Dash invades UCSB for the Gaucho Gallop

Do you have a furry friend at home? Looking to share your love of running with the one that loves you unconditionally? Bring them to the Gaucho Gallop and you can have your cake and eat it too!

Dioji Dog Dash

Bring your dog and get ready to race for perhaps the biggest prize off the day: a 3 month supply of dog food! Runners and their dogs will compete versus other human/dog teams over a 1 kilometer distance with the winner (both male an female) taking home the prize.

Dioji Doggie Lounge

Take part in the one-of-a-kind Doggie Lounge hosted by the great folks at the Dioji K-9 Resort & Athletic Club. Your dog will be cared for while you race your heart out in the 10K or 5K runs. Be sure to register early, we have limited spaces.

For more information, go to www.UCSBruns.com/doggoneit

UC SANTA BARBARA ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER “GAUCHO FRIDAY”
Annual Event to be held on Friday, April 23rd

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (April 5, 2010) -- UC Santa Barbara Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas and Alumni Association Executive Director George Thurlow have announced April 23 as Gaucho Friday and encourage all students, faculty, staff, and friends to wear blue and gold apparel that bears the university’s name on that date.

“UCSB is respected for its academic excellence and abundant social opportunities in a hospitable and beautiful environment,” Lucas said. “Gauchos are much like a family that all work together to make this university one that has much to be proud of. To identify with a campus as unique and distinguished as that of UCSB, it deserves to be celebrated.”

Gaucho Friday is sponsored by the UCSB Alumni Association, UCSB Bookstore, La Cumbre Yearbook and UCSB Athletics and will be working closely with the community to accumulate prizes for the event.

Students, Faculty and Staff “caught” wearing their school spirit by Olé, the beloved mascot, and his posse will be given raffle tickets and will have a chance to win a whole host of prizes. Gaucho Friday kicks off the fourth annual All Gaucho Reunion, taking place that weekend. The All Gaucho Reunion is an opportunity for all past and current students, as well as their friends, to reconnect with each other.

Executive Director George Thurlow encourages all students to be proud of their remarkable university by wearing their Gaucho gear.

“We are extremely lucky to be associated with such a fantastic university. From academics to athletics, UCSB truly excels! Our Faculty members are among the brightest in the world and our alumni have gone on to do some incredible things.” Thurlow said.

As part of the event, the UCSB bookstore will be offering a 20% discount on all adult UCSB logoed clothing on Gaucho Friday. In addition, everyone who receives a raffle ticket from Ole and his posse will have the chance to win a variety of gift certificates.

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For more information, go to www.facebook.com/GauchoFriday

Santa Barbara County Economic outlook
Thursday April 22, 2010

7:00 am Registration & Breakfast
8:00 am Craig Zimmerman-Chairperson Welcome & Introductions
8:10 am Dan Walters - Syndicated Columnist, Sacramento Bee State of the State
8:30 am P eter Rupert, Ph.D., Professor, Vice Chair, Housing, Jobs and Economic Policy
UC Santa Barbara, Economics Department
9:00 am Chris Thornberg - Principal, Beacon Economics United States & California Economy
9:40 am Brad Kemp - Director of Regional Research, Beacon Economics Santa Barbara County Economy
10:30 am Close
Registration by Mail: Make checks payable to Santa Barbara Chamber. Mail payment and registration form to SB
Chamber, Economic Outlook Seminar Registration, P.O Box 299, Santa Barbara, CA 93102.

For more information, go to: http://www.ucsb-efp.com/

UCSB Rec Sports Announces their Hall of Fame Awards

Chris Keets - Surfing
Adam Laurent - Cycling
3-Peat National Championship Black Tide Ultimate Teams

Pioneer Award Recipients:

Donn Bernstein
Frank Stevens
Mike Killackey

IM Legacy Awards

Vintage Gnarley
Ozone Rangers

Additionally, UCSB Rec. Sports will be honoring our most recent national champions such as our 3-peat Women's Club Soccer Team.

Deb Callahan, President of the Heinz Center to Keynote the Environmental Studies 40th Anniversary Dinner as part of the All Gaucho Reunion

Deb Callahan, noted conservation leader and environmental policy expert, became President of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment on April 20, 2009. Ms. Callahan succeeded Dr. Thomas Lovejoy who served as Heinz Center president from 2002 to October 2008 when he became Biodiversity Chair at the Heinz Center. Immediately prior to joining The Heinz Center, Ms. Callahan was the founder and CEO of Northstar Strategy Inc., a strategic consulting service firm providing expertise in philanthropy, environmental policy and communications for a range of foundations and non- profit organizations.

Ms. Callahan served as President of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) from 1996 to 2006, a nationally recognized political and environmental leadership organization. During her tenure, the LCV and its voter Education Fund developed into highly respected non partisan institutions that educated the public on critical environmental policies. Prior to her work at LCV, Ms.Callahan served as the founding Executive Director of the Brainerd Foundation and was a program officer for the W. Alton Jones foundation, both prominent environmental grantmaking foundations.

The Heinz Center, established in 1995 in memory of Senator John Heinz, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution dedicated to improving the scientific and economic basis for environmental policy and to developing innovative solutions to environmental problems.

UCSB Athletics Honors Eight New Members including two Gold Medalists

The UCSB Athletics Department will induct eight new members into its Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame at a banquet on Saturday, April 24, 2010, it was announced Tuesday.

Women’s swimmer Kim Bryson, football player Dave Chapple, high jumper Colman Conroy, men’s water polo player John Dobrott, women’s basketball player Christa Gannon, men’s swimmer Jason Lezak, women’s tennis player Jean Okada-Mueller, and men’s volleyball player Todd Rogers are the 2010 inductees.

“These are great Gauchos and they earned their way into our Hall of Fame,” said UCSB Director of Athletics Mark Massari. “UCSB Athletics does great things and all eight of these former great Gauchos are a part of a proud history.”

Bryson earned several All-American honors in her four years at UCSB. Chapple was an All-American and set numerous school records as a placekicker and punter. Conroy set a school record and earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Dobrott is UCSB’s third all-time leading scorer, a three-time All-American and he helped the program to the 1979 NCAA Championship. Gannon was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, an NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist, and she has numerous significant accomplishments since her graduation from UCSB. Jason Lezak was an All-American, a three-time Big West Swimmer of the Year, and a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympics. Jean Okada-Mueller was an All-American, qualified for three NCAA Tournaments as an individual, and led UCSB to four Big West Championships. Todd Rogers was a two-time All-American setter and has become one of the greatest professional beach volleyball players of all-time, winning the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics as well as numerous AVP Tournaments.

The banquet, which is part of the All Gaucho Reunion weekend, is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2010, in the Thunderdome. There will also be a reception in The Phil Womble Hall of Champions in the ICA Building at 5:00 p.m. Prior to April 2, tickets for the event are $75.00 for adults and $35.00 for children ages 5-15. On April 2, the tickets will be $90.00 for adults and $50.00 for children

Only Seven Weeks To Go

We are less than seven weeks away from the 4th annual All Gaucho Reunion and what promises to be an incredible weekend! Be sure to check out our website at www.UCSBalum.com/AGR. There are literally events for everyone - from the Gaucho Gallop benefit race to a faculty-led lectures on the IV Riots.