CITY SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR 2012 THONG HY HUYNH AWARDS

The city of Davis Human Relations Commission is seeking nominations for this year’s Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Awards. The Commission will honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions in addressing or improving civil and human rights issues in the community. The Commission encourages groups and individuals to submit award nominations prior to the deadline of Friday, March 16, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

The award was established to acknowledge the racially motivated stabbing death of high school student Thong Hy Huynh on the Davis Senior High School campus in 1983. The annual awards recognize achievements in the areas of human and civil rights.

The categories have been revised for 2012. Nominations may be submitted in any of the following five categories:

Lifetime Achievement

Awarded for significant civil rights efforts over a long period of time while improving the quality of life in Davis. The recipient may be an individual or community organization that has promoted positive human relations in the community.

Young Humanitarian Award

Awarded to an individual in grades K-16 for significant efforts in improving the quality of life in Davis. Nominees have directly addressed the needs of specific groups within the community in the areas of human or civil rights or education.

Civil Rights Advocacy

Awarded to an individual or organization for significant efforts and achievement in any of the following areas:

  • Speaking on behalf of, and giving voice to, the disadvantaged and disempowered.
  • Promoting positive human relations, civil rights, cultural awareness or peaceful means of conflict resolution.
  • Improving the quality of life for Davis residents through the areas of health, human services, housing or employment.

Excellence in Community Involvement (Awarded to a Business)

Awarded to a business that has a record of significant efforts in promoting and practicing equal opportunity. This organization has contributed to community efforts that promote positive human relations and civil rights in Davis.

Public Servant of the Year

Awarded to a local public servant who has displayed exceptional interpersonal skills under challenging circumstances. These efforts have resulted in effective conflict resolution or intervention and have promoted positive human relations in our multicultural and diverse community.

Recipients in 2011 included the following:

  • Young Humanitarian: UC Davis student Desiré Campusano for her activism on campus and in the community.
  • Lifetime Achievement: Awarded posthumously to Jack Forbes for his work to foster Native American race relations.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy: Amagda Perez for her commitment to improving legal access for rural immigrant communities.

Awards were also bestowed upon Lea Rosenberg for her tireless volunteer efforts with community groups, Davis Bridge Educational Foundation for their work to improve academic achievement of low income students, the Davis High School Race and Social Justice Class and Davis Police Officers John Neves and Peter Faeth

Award nomination forms may be obtained online at www.cityofdavis.org, at City Hall (23 Russell Blvd) or by calling at (530) 757-5602. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 16.

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  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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