Golden State Today

The University of California, Davis, Cal Aggie Alumni Association has announced the recipients of its 2024 Alumni Awards, an annual program that recognizes remarkable impacts made by alumni and friends of the university.

This year’s winners are leaders in technology, health care, civil advocacy, and higher education. All have dedicated their time and resources to create life-changing opportunities for students at UC Davis and around the world.  

The Cal Aggie Alumni Association, or CAAA, which serves more than 314,000 UC Davis graduates, has chosen to honor:

Aggie Service Award — Neptaly “Taty” Aguilera ’73

Emil M. Mrak International Impact Award — Adriana Gascoigne ’00

Lifetime Achievement Award — Sandra Reed, M.D. ’85

Distinguished Friends of the University — Cathy and Bob Kerr

“This year’s honorees are shining examples of how people can find their greatest fulfillment when they pursue their passions,” said Dana Allen, assistant vice chancellor and executive director of CAAA. “Their collective impacts have greatly served our campus, state, country, and the world. We are excited to honor them and thank them for their roles in growing our abundant Aggie Pride.”

The 51st Alumni Awards gala, “The Aggies,” will take place at the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center at UC Davis on Thursday, May 2, at 5 p.m. Tickets are available now.

Neptaly “Taty” Aguilera, recipient of the Aggie Service Award, first learned about activism as a student, sparking a passion that led to a 40-year civil-service career dedicated to fostering social justice and providing educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. Aguilera was instrumental in organizing California’s first Equal Employment Opportunity conference and founding the Chicano Latino State Employees Association. He also led efforts to bring the annual César Chávez Youth Leadership Conference to UC Davis over 20 years ago.

Adriana Gascoigne, recipient of the Emil M. Mrak International Impact Award, is the founder and CEO of Girls in Tech, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the gender gap in tech. Through her leadership at GIT, Gascoigne has improved diversity in the tech workforce, encouraged policy change, and inspired women to pursue any career they wish.

Sandra Reed, M.D., recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, is described as a brilliant innovator in the medical field and a generous servant leader to UC Davis and beyond. Reed retired as a Navy medical doctor and has supported the UC Davis School of Medicine with scholarships for veterans and the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center.

Cathy and Bob Kerr, recipients of the Distinguished Friends of the University award, have been engaged members of the UC Davis community for over 50 years. Bob Kerr served in various administrative capacities at UC Davis, while Cathy Kerr worked as a controller for Sodexo and University Dining Services. The Kerrs are champions of Athletics, the Arboretum and Public Garden, and have created scholarships for studying abroad and expanded international alumni engagement.