PSU Magazine Spring 1997

UM NI A salute for service The sent iment "in honor of our friends" deftly describes the ba i for PSU Salutes. The event, started by the Alumni Association eight years ago, awards outstanding alumni, facu lty, and friends of PSU who have made signifi – cant contributions to the University and/or to the community. PSU alutes '97 is schedu led for Thursd<ly, May 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Harri on Hall. The event i· open to the public; tickets can be purchased by ailing the PSU Alumni Office, 725-4948. The celebration is spon ored hy the Alumni Associ<ltion, Viking luh, and the PSU Foundation. Portland tare is proud to honor the fo llowing individuals and groups for their service to the University, their profession, and the community at P U alutes '97. Lee Jenkins '79, recreation upervisor at th University Park Commun ity Center, ha done omething many people on ly dream about; he has reclaimed hi neighborhood from crime, drugs, and fear. Jenkins, with the help of north Portland resident , Portland Parks and Recreation, a supportive fami ly, and an iron will, ha turned the University Park Community enter into a thriving and safe gathering place for people of all ages. It was this dedication to the children of hi community and to the chi ldren of the whole city that led to his election as a 1997 PSU Outstanding Alumni Award recipient. Jenki ns has worked for the park bureau for more than 25 years and has se rved on countless boards and advi– sory committees. Some of his commu– nity tie include service with the PSU Alumni Association (chair of the 20 PSU MAGAZINE SPRING 1997 ASSOCIATION N E W S Student Affairs Committee) , the PSU Child and Family Studies Advisory Board, the Oregon Boxing and Wrestling Commission, the Metro Police Activities League Steering Committee, and the Youth at Ri k Project. The late Professor Milan Svobod<l, who nominated Jenkins, wrote, "Lee's most singular achieve– ment relates to hi s tireless devotion to the children, you th, and adults who utilize the University Park Community Center." Keren Brown Wilson PhD '83, known a a pioneer of the "as isted living" concept in O regon, has achi eved respect from her peers in the state and across the nation. Wilson's advo– cacy for older adults began taking shape during her doctoral work at Portland State in the early '80s. stnce become a nat ionally recognized champion for the aged and their needs. Her company, Assisted Living Concepts Inc., own more than 30 facilities. She also teache at PSU in the Institute on Aging, at Lewis & C lark Co llege, Oregon Hea lth Sciences Univer ity, and Southern Oregon State College. ln a recent art icle in The Oregonian, Wilson was feted as one of only two women chief executive offi– cers among Oregon's 50 largest public firms. Her nominator, Profes or Margaret Neal, described this 1997 PSU O utstanding Alumni Award recipient as a "gerontologist with a reso lute devotion to a better life for frail elder ; a pioneer and nationally known business person; a committed educator; a trailblazer; and a role model for women in leadership." Richard Forbes, professor of biology and rec ipient of the 1997 Distin– guished Faculty Service Award, is "popular with students, commit– ted to community education, and pas ionate about his cience." These phrases were used to describe Forbes in his letter of upport. Generously giving time and teaching materials, Forbes ha worked in cooperation with the Audubon Society; Washington Park Zoo; Oregon D partment of Fish and Wildlife and federal wildlife program ; Mount Hood and Portland community colleges; Oregon Hi torical Society; Tryon Creek State Park; and Portland Public Schools. His work as a wildlife photographer is the basis for collabora– tion with colleagues at the University of New Mexico on a book of Southwest mammals, and he is cited by supporters for tireless patience and encouragement for undergraduate and graduate students alike. Forbe ' nominator, Lynn Lar en '7 , MS '81 wrote, "He does not realize the impact he ha on his student , co– workers, and the community, but we certainly do. As he quietly goe about hi s work as a biologist and educator, he speak loudly of the exce llence that P U wishes to achieve." The Clark Foundation is receiving an O utstanding Friend Award for its support of PSU's College of Urban and Public Affairs for 22 years-one of the Univer ity's longest-standing donor relationships. Two decades of scholar– ship support culminated this year in a $500,000 cornerstone gift to the campaign for a new Urban Center Building to house the College of Urban and Public Affairs and create impetus fo r P U's innovative Univer ity Di trict development plan. Through the year , the C lark Foundation' gifts to the University have totaled more than 656,000, and foundation Pre ident Maurie Clark has per onally served on the P U Foundation Board .