Former President Carter to Receive UC Merced Spendlove Prize
April 7, 2010
Nobel Peace Prize winner is fifth recipient of award given for
delivery of social justice, diplomacy and tolerance, will receive
honor during previously announced May 3 visit to campus
MERCED — Former President Jimmy Carter has been named the
2010 recipient of the
Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and
Tolerance. The University of California, Merced, will award the
prize during Carter's previously announced visit to the campus on
May 3 for the
National Parks Institute. Both events are by
invitation only.
The Spendlove Prize honors an individual who exemplifies the
delivery of social justice, diplomacy and tolerance in his or her
work. It was established through a generous gift to the university
from Sherrie Spendlove in honor of her parents, lifelong Merced
residents Alice and Clifford Spendlove.
"We are deeply grateful to Sherrie Spendlove for establishing
this important prize at UC Merced," said
UC Merced
Chancellor Steve Kang. "It serves as an annual reminder of the
compassion of the human spirit and the need to recognize those who
exemplify it so tirelessly and effectively."
As the 39th president of the United States (1977-1981), Carter
made the global quest for basic human rights a central platform of
his administration. He significantly stepped up international
efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, brokering a historic
peace accord between Israel and Egypt in 1979. In 2002, he was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his lifetime achievements in the
areas of international peace, human rights, democracy and economic
and social development.
He remains very active in a wide variety of national and global
humanitarian issues, from monitoring elections worldwide for a
democratic and peaceful outcome, to pioneering the eradication of
tropical diseases in Africa, to hands-on toiling with former first
lady Rosalynn Carter on Habitat for Humanity projects.
"Former President Jimmy Carter's continued tireless efforts for
international peace and basic human rights for the marginalized are
both staggering and far-reaching," said Sherrie Spendlove. "Whether
working to reconcile opposing sides in the Middle East or elsewhere
through the Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program or
advocating greater mental health awareness for children, Jimmy
Carter is a humanitarian of the first order and a true citizen of
the world."
The Spendlove Prize Selection Committee is chaired by the dean
of the UC Merced
School of
Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts(SSHA) and includes a
representative from the Spendlove family or a designee; an
undergraduate student; a graduate student; a faculty member; and
representatives from the UC Merced community.
"President Carter is receiving the fifth annual Spendlove Prize
for his commitment to advancing human rights and alleviating
unnecessary human suffering and for his continuous work towards
creating a world in which every man, woman and child has the
opportunity to enjoy good health and live in peace," said Hans
Björnsson, chair of the committee, who served as interim dean
of SSHA until January 2010.
The Spendlove Prize includes a $10,000 award.
Previous recipients of the award include:
2006 -
Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a Merced native,
professor of law and founding executive director of the Charles
Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard
University.
2007 -
John Y. Tateishi, a civil-rights activist who
led the successful redress campaign for Japanese-Americans in the
aftermath of World War II internment.
2008 -
Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, founders of
Childhelp, an organization devoted to the prevention and treatment
of child abuse.
2009 -
Faye J. Crosby, a professor of psychology at UC
Santa Cruz and expert on affirmative action and inclusiveness.
Although the Spendlove Prize event is by invitation only, a live
Webcast will be made available. More details will be posted at
www.ucmerced.edu/spendloveprize.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Brenda
Ortiz
