More than 300 alumni and members of the Rice community honored a number of highly distinguished individuals who have gone above and beyond the call in their professional fields, volunteer efforts and support of the university at the Association of Rice Alumni Laureates Celebration.
The event was held May 2 at the Post Oak Hotel and emceed by past president of the ARA Board Toya Cirica Bell ’87. Rice President Reginald DesRoches and Board of Trustees Chair Robert T. Ladd ’78 attended the celebration.
“One of the ARA’s goals is to honor excellence in all its forms, and tonight is a testament to that,” Bell said.
Since the program’s inception, the ARA has annually presented three major awards to outstanding alumni and friends of Rice: the Meritorious Service Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Gold Medal, the highest possible honor for service to the university. This year, the ceremony kicked off with the introduction of Cynthia Allshouse, the Honorary Alumnus Award recipient.
James “Jimmy” Disch and Wanda ’78 and Richard Gass ’78, ’79 received the Meritorious Service Award, which honors significant, sustained, voluntary contributions of energy, time and creativity toward the advancement of the university.
Miriam John ’70, Travis McPhail ’04, ’07, ’11 and Talithia Williams ’07, ’08 were recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award , given to those who have advanced the interest and standards of excellence of Rice through distinctive professional careers.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the Gold Medal to Melissa Kean ’96, ’00 and Albert Kidd ’64, ’65. The Gold Medal recognizes outstanding service in promoting the ideals of the university, deep dedication to and advancement of academic excellence, and uncommon generosity of time and means in support of Rice.
In his comments, President DesRoches thanked the alumni who made the night possible and acknowledged their willingness to be examples for Rice’s younger alumni.
“(The celebration) occurs just two days before we conduct commencement exercises back on campus and mint the newest class of Rice alumni into the already 64,000-plus alumni community,” DesRoches said. “What an absolutely incredible group of role models our students have in their alumni community.”
The Laureates Awards Program was created by the ARA in 1937 to recognize highly distinguished individuals for extraordinary achievements and contributions to their professions, local communities and the university.
To learn more about the Laureates Awards Program or to make a nomination, visit https://alumni.rice.edu/about-laureates-awards .