For Medal Recipients, It’s All Academic
The event: The UCI Medal Ceremony, held Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The gala dinner, presented by the UCI Foundation, awarded Donald R. Beall, Joan F. Beall, George E. Hewitt, Meredith J. Khachigian, R. Duncan Luce and William F. Podlich with the UCI Medal in recognition of their dedication to the university.
Distinguished gathering: “All of the individuals being honored here tonight have contributed in multiple ways; they are really woven into the fabric of the university,” UCI Chancellor Ralph Cicerone said. Cicerone joined UCI Foundation Chair Thomas Tierney, who lauded the winners for their leadership skills, in presenting the medals. Created in 1984, it is considered the university’s highest distinction.
Martha Newkirk, a 1993 medal recipient, co-chaired the evening with fellow alumnus Larry Tenney. “The community has been so generous over the years,” Tenney said. “Now I think it’s time for us to step up and play a more active role.”
A golden affair: Amber lights illuminated the hotel ballroom, casting a glow over tables draped in gold satin and topped with hydrangea bouquets.
More than 700 guests--including 41 past medal recipients--savored sea bass on tomato fennel salad, filet mignon with roasted garlic pinot noir sauce before watching spirited song-and-dance numbers by students from UCI’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts.
Quote: “It’s an honor for me to be associated with an institution like UCI,” Donald Beall said. “We need a great research university for Southern California to achieve its full potential.”
Bottom line: The evening netted $535,000 for the UCI Regents’ Scholars Program, which funds merit scholarships. For information, (949) 824-5121.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
