An internationally acclaimed novelist and physician, an entrepreneurial biotech leader in the drive to advance diagnosis, a champion of undergraduate diversity, a charismatic professor and two outstanding students have been named by the UCSD Alumni Association as top recipients of the 30th annual Awards for Excellence distinctions. The prestigious awards will be presented on Saturday, June 7, in the Grand Ballroom of the newly expanded Price Center of the UC San Diego campus.
Afghan-American author and physician Khaled Hosseini, M.D. ’93 will receive the prestigious Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award. Hosseini began writing The Kite Runner while in medical practice. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan to a Dari-speaking family, Hosseini’s memories of peaceful pre-Soviet era Afghanistan, as well as his personal experience with Afghan Hazaras, led to the writing of this first novel. In 2003, the Kite Runner was published and has since become an international bestseller, published in 38 countries, and a movie. In 2006 he was named a goodwill envoy to the United Nations Refugee Agency. His second critically-acclaimed novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns was published in May of 2007.
Gunars Valkirs ’74, Ph.D.’82, a biophysicist recognized as being instrumental in San Diego’s biotechnology boom is the recipient of the Professional Achievement Award. In 1988, he co-founded Biosite with the goal of using monoclonal antibodies to develop and manufacture cheaper, faster and more accurate diagnostic devices to determine conditions ranging from drug abuse to the presence of myocardial infarction. One of Valkirs’ greatest successes has been in the field of home pregnancy testing. The ICON test, which Valkirs helped to develop, was the predecessor that led the way to the modern color/yes-no home pregnancy test.
Anthony Jackson ’74, a dedicated emergency room physician, will be recognized for Distinguished Service to the University. For over twenty years he has worked with the South Central Gifted Scholarship Fund in mentoring and exposing high achieving under-represented middle and high school students from Los Angeles to higher education, specifically to UC San Diego. In December of 2007, Jackson, in partnership with the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, Inc., and Young Black Scholars Program, rented vehicles to transport 70 students to attend a “Day at UCSD College Campus Tour,” a program he personally funded. He is credited for recruiting over 25 underrepresented scholars to UC San Diego.
David Jordan, Professor Emeritus, Anthropology, and Provost Emeritus, Warren College will be honored for distinguished teaching. Jordan’s charisma, humor and teaching dynamism transcends a typical college classroom through his use of imaginative extracurricular and virtual learning activities. His dedication to the educational enrichment, advancement and learning of students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level has made a significant impact on thousands of students. In addition to his classroom success the distinguished scholar has been instrumental in course development, co-curricular programming and the mentoring of new faculty instructors.
Sapna Iyer and Jeffrey Mounzer will be presented the Outstanding Senior Award. The student selection is based on scholarly achievement, leadership and campus service. Iyer is a Marshall College student leader majoring in biochemistry and cell biology. She has been admitted to UC San Diego’s School of Medicine in the fall. Mounzer, president of the Triton Engineering Student Council, is a Warren College student graduating with a double major in electrical engineering and economics. He plans to obtain a graduate degree and pursue a career in leadership within the engineering and technology industry.
These accomplished alumni will join the distinguished company of former award recipients including J. Craig Venter ’72, David E. Shaw ’72, Roger Revelle ’36, and Nobel Prize in Medicine recipient Susumu Tonegawa ’69 – all international figures who have brought distinction and prestige to UC San Diego.
On June 7, 2008, the San Diego Alumni Association will host the 30th annual Awards for Excellence program to recognize the outstanding alumni, faculty and student scholars of 2008. Funds generated from the event will benefit the UCSD Alumni Association endowed scholarship programs.
Online event registration, sponsorship opportunities and additional information on this year’s honorees is available on the UCSD Alumni Association website www.alumni.ucsd.edu/awards. Or you may call (858) 534-3900 for more information. 
— Mary Johnson
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