UHCL honors distinguished alumni and professors
The annual Alumni Celebration, which honors distinguished UHCL alumni and professors, will be held Oct. 17 at Space Center Houston. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will include dinner, an awards presentation and live music entertainment.
UHCL has been honoring notable alumni since 1984 with the goal to motivate and influence future graduates to follow in the honorees’ footsteps of accomplishment.
“This event is an excellent opportunity for students to meet and mingle with the very best of UHCL past, present and future,” said Kristine Thompson, senior coordinator of alumni relations.
There will be three different acknowledgement awards presented at the event: Distinguished Alumni Award, Early Achievement Award and Outstanding Professor Award.
The Distinguished Alumni Award honors those who serve as a model for future graduates. This year’s honoree is Anita Fogtman, class of 1985, retired vice president of Program Management, Science Applications International Corporation.
Fogtman is recognized for her charitable efforts in the community, her various works with NASA and for her efforts as the CEO of The Fogtman Foundation, which provides scholarships for single mothers.
The Early Achievement Award honors an individual who is of 45 years of age or younger who carries “notable accomplishments in his or her business, community service and university commitment or involvement in the Alumni Association.”
This year, the university will be honoring three individuals in this category: Katherine Becker, class of 2003 and 2006, administrator of the School of Nursing at UTMB; Marla Davis Chandler, class of 1996 and 2001, campus technology integration specialist at Bonnette Junior High; and Kanchana Weerasinghe, class of 1998 and 2000, information technology manager with Artisan Network Services.
Becker is acknowledged for her healthcare administration contributions, which have brought her to UTMB at Galveston and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Becker is also a teacher at Galveston College. Chandler is honored for her volunteer efforts in the community of Deer Park ISD as well as teaching in the school district. Weerasinghe is currently a member of the Alumni Association and has served in past years as a member of the Alumni Association Executive Council. He also regularly volunteers at the university and in the community.
The Outstanding Professor Award honors a current university professor who has made a difference to students inside and outside the classroom. Honored at this year’s event will be Ashish Chandra, professor of Healthcare Administration in the UHCL School of Business.
Chandra is acknowledged for expediting study abroad groups in India for healthcare administration students as well as working as a chairman of the International Conference on Healthcare Systems and Global Business Issues.
“I am truly humbled, honored and touched by this recognition,” Chandra said. “I offer my utmost, heartfelt appreciation to the UHCL alumni for bestowing this prestigious award upon me.”
Each honoree will have a chance to make a brief statement upon accepting his or her award.
Live music entertainment will feature the band Juan Manuel and Friends. Juan Manuel Traslaviña, leader of the band, is a past recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. His music has been examined for Latin Grammy and Grammy nominations.
The Alumni Association invites all of the student body, faculty, staff and public to come out and honor these distinguished alumni. It is a time to honor and appreciate the university and to strengthen school spirit.
“It’s an exciting event that brings together people from all walks of life and career paths, united by the common experience of being a UHCL alumnus,” Thompson said. “However diverse their chosen fields may be, they can all relate to what it means to be a UHCL hawk. Last year was very successful, and we anticipate exceeding those numbers this year.”
The event is black tie optional and tickets will be sold at the door for those who missed the deadline of Oct. 9 to RSVP.
For more information, visit www.uhcl.edu/alumnicelebration or www.uhcl.edu/alumni.
