CONTACT: Jason Foster
SDSU Marketing & Communications
Phone (619) 594-2585 Pager (619) 620-1184
foster@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, February 10, 2005 – Eleven distinguished San Diego State University alumni have been named Monty Award winners for 2005 and will be honored on Saturday, March 5 at the 33rd annual Montys Awards Gala, sponsored by the SDSU Alumni Association.

This year’s Monty award recipients include Armen Keteyian, a seven-time Emmy-winning sports journalist for CBS Sports and HBO; Herbert J. Solomon, founding partner of Solomon, Seidenwurm, Ward & Smith; Pamela Muñoz Ryan, national award-winning children’s book author; Brent R. Wilkes, founder and president of the Wilkes Corp., which supports technology and defense-related companies; and Elisabeth “Jinx” Kenney Ecke, civic volunteer.

Rounding out this year’s Monty recipients are Joe Kiani, co-founder of the medical signal processing technology company Masimo Corp.; John Clapp, Ph.D.,a professor of social work at SDSU nationally known for his research into reducing substance abuse; Walter Oechel, Ph.D, a professor of biology at SDSU lauded by the National Science Foundation for his studies related to global warming; Pablo Orozco, executive director of the Calexico New River Committee; Earl F. Nation, M.D., who has dedicated his life to medicine, teaching and research; and Judith Gumbiner, who recently retired after a 37-year career at SDSU, including 15 years as director of Career Services.

The Monty award is a symbol of achievement and success presented to distinguished alumni from each of SDSU's seven academic colleges, the Imperial Valley Campus, Library and Information Access and the SDSU Alumni Association. In addition, distinguished service awards are given to an exceptional alumni volunteer and an outstanding university employee.

The Montys Awards Gala is the university’s signature event and a time-honored tradition at SDSU. This year’s gala, themed “Always on the Move,” starts at 6 p.m. at the Omni San Diego Hotel. The event features dinner and entertainment by JuleTone Productions, featuring performances by familiar SDSU alumni faces. This year's co-hosts are Bill Earley, '86, and Don Harrington, '57.

“This year’s class of Monty Award winners embodies the tradition of excellence and community contributions that’s synonymous with San Diego State,” said Jim Herrick, executive director of the SDSU Alumni Association. “There are prize-winning authors and broadcasters; dedicated law, medical and educational professionals; world-class researchers; business leaders; and people dedicated to helping others. It’s our privilege to honor them all.”

Here is more information on this year’s Monty Award winners:

· College of Arts and Letters -- Herbert J. Solomon. Herbert J. Solomon ('53, economics and political science) is an accomplished attorney and mediator, and a founding partner with the San Diego law firm of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith. Also a tireless community leader, Solomon has served on the boards of more than 20 organizations, including Hillel, the United Jewish Federation, Cal Western School of Law and the SDSU Arts and Letters Dean's Advisory Council.

· College of Business Administration -- Brent R. Wilkes. Brent R. Wilkes ('77, accounting) is founder and president of Wilkes Corp., which provides leadership, knowledge and personnel to technology and defense-related companies. He and his wife also established the Wilkes Foundation to support children's healthcare, as well as military, police and fire fighters and their families. Wilkes is a board member of numerous community and philanthropic groups, including The Campanile Foundation at SDSU.

· College of Education -- Pamela Muñoz Ryan. Pamela Muñoz Ryan (’73, child development; ’91, education) has written more than 25 books for young people, many of them multiple award-winners. She is especially known for her novels "Esperanza Rising" and "Riding Freedom" and her picture books, including "Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride" and "When Marian Sang."

· College of Engineering -- Joe Kiani. Joe Kiani (’84, ’88, electrical engineering) is a recognized leader in biomedical technology and co-founder of Masimo Corp., having served as its CEO and chairman since the firm's inception in 1989. With the invention of Masimo SET medical signal processing technology, Kiani's company dramatically changed the field of pulse oximetry. Masimo now licenses its technology to more than half the world's patient monitoring suppliers.

· College of Health and Human Services -- John Clapp, Ph.D. John Clapp, Ph.D. (’87, psychology; ’91, social work) is a professor in the School of Social Work at SDSU. A specialist in alcohol and other drug epidemiology, etiology, prevention and treatment, Clapp has drawn significant research funding and national recognition for his community-based research and intervention strategies to reduce substance abuse among college students. He is also a prolific author, with dozens of journal articles, reports and presentations to his credit.

· College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts -- Armen Keteyian. Seven-time Emmy Award winner Armen Keteyian (’76, journalism) is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest sports journalists. As a special features reporter for CBS Sports, he covers top NFL games, the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the Tour de France. He is also a featured correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” Keteyian has also written or co-written nine books.

· College of Sciences -- Walter Oechel, Ph.D. Walter Oechel (’66, biology) is a professor of biology and director of the Global Change Research Group at San Diego State University. An outstanding teacher, mentor and scholar, Oechel has earned national recognition for his research of global ecosystems, including global warming. He was recently named one of eight scientists in the nation to be recognized for excellence in teaching and research by the National Science Foundation.

· Imperial Valley Campus -- Pablo Orozco. Pablo Orozco (’01, ’03, international business) is executive director of the Calexico New River Committee, an organization dedicated to eliminating the negative impact of the notoriously polluted New River in Calexico, Calif. Established in 2001, the committee has already consolidated community and political support behind the New River Public Health Protection Project. Orozco is also a specialist in cross cultural management training.

· Library and Information Access -- Earl F. Nation, M.D. Earl F. Nation, M.D. (’31, chemistry and history) has dedicated his life to medicine, teaching and research, practicing in Pasadena, Calif. An esteemed urologist, he is a past president of the Western Section of the American Urological Association, which established a scholarship in his name. Nation is also a longtime member of the Zamorano Club, a historic organization devoted to the appreciation of fine printing, the history of the book and book collecting.

· Distinguished Alumni Service Award -- Elisabeth “Jinx” Ecke. Elisabeth “Jinx” Ecke (’53, speech communication) is a philanthropist, community leader and enthusiastic supporter of many San Diego organizations, including the zoo, the Salvation Army, the La Jolla Neurosciences Institute, and SDSU, particularly the Library, the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, and SDSU BRIDGES. In 2000, Ecke established her own charitable organization, the Isabella Fund at the San Diego Foundation.

· Distinguished University Service Award -- Judith Gumbiner. Judith Gumbiner (’66, ’79, public administration) recently retired after a 37-year career at SDSU. As director of Career Services since 1989, she led the department to national prominence and helped launch the professional lives of thousands of SDSU students and alumni. Gumbiner has also served as an officer of numerous professional and community groups, including the Western Association of Colleges & Employers and the SDSU Alumni Association.

For tickets and additional information, please visit www.sdsualumni.org or contact Cheryl Trtan at 619.594.ALUM (2586) or ctrtan@mail.sdsu.edu. For more information about SDSU Month, visit www.sdsumonth.com.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s nearly 33,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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