16 honored with Honorary Alumni Awards

Give a little, get a little back. So goes the philosophy of the UA Alumni Association.

Today the organization is honoring six people with alumnus status, although they never sat through a University of Arizona lecture or baked in the sun on the UA Mall. These individuals are not UA alumni, but the Alumni Association believes their effect on the University has nevertheless been felt.

Congressman Ed Pastor is receiving a Honorary Alumnus Award for his personal and professional support of the UA, said Melissa Strey, an Alumni Association official. This gives him the unusual honor of having alumni status from rival schools UA and Arizona State University, where he graduated from in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry.

Pastor's relationship with the UA extends back 21 years, when he was elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in 1976.

He began supporting legislation and increased funding for the Cooperative Extension Office, an organization cooperatively run by federal and county governments and land grant schools.

The main benefactor of Pastor's support in Congress is the UA's College of Agriculture. A representative from the college said Pastor is an advocate of legislation supporting international arid lands and water conservation research programs.

He also has worked to protect federal funding of student loans.

"I consider myself a proud friend and advocate for the school," Pastor said.

William G. Hillenbrand is also receiving a Honorary Alumnus Award.

The Alumni Association cites Hillenbrand's vision and generosity as helping UA athletics become a driving national athletic force, including a NCAA championship softball team and six All-American swimmers.

Hillenbrand's financial and personal contributions have helped build the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, the John W. Hillenbrand Meeting Center and the Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium

The other four Honorary Alumni are Celestino Fern˝ndez, Nancy Ann Bagott Graham, Mary Henkle and Naomi Reich.

The Alumni Association will be honoring a total of 16 individuals and one organization in seven categories for service to the University, said Strey, awards program director. They were nominated for the annual Homecoming honors by a college or the Alumni Association.

The recipients will be receiving a plaque and commendation, but no financial compensation, she said.

The other recipients are: Elizabeth Kathryn Barber, Cindy Yrun-Calenti, Peter Andrew Groseta, David Hossler, Joseph L. Lane, Rick Lavis, Patricia Stowers, Walter D. Armer and Sue Wagner. The Family and Consumer Resources Council of Alumni and Friends will also be awarded.

The awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m. in the Swede Johnson Building, 1111 N. Cherry Ave.

About 90 people are expected to attend the event, Strey said.