Chancellor Drake Co-Hosts Annual Human Relations Commission Awards

Chancellor Michael Drake co-hosted the 38th Orange County Human Relations Commission Awards with Sandra Hutchens, Orange County sheriff-coroner, May 7 at the Grove of Anaheim. Olive Tree Initiative, a diverse group of UCI students who traveled to the Middle East in September and brought back to the campus community their insights about ongoing conflicts, received the Community Leader Award.

For 38 years, OC Human Relations has recognized individuals, law enforcement agencies, schools and community organizations for their contributions to human relations in Orange County. The commission provides programs in partnerships with schools, corporations, individuals, cities and foundations to eliminate prejudice, intolerance and discrimination.

In September 2008, Chancellor Drake received a commendation from the commission for leading efforts to prioritize, document, investigate and appropriately respond to expressions of hate and bigotry at UCI.

Manuel Gomez, student affairs vice chancellor, celebrates OTI’s award with students and community leaders. Standing from left: Lin Fujitsubo, OC Human Relations board member; Tzvi Raviv, Israel program coordinator, Hillel Foundation of Orange County; Sepi Termechi, UCI undergraduate; Moran Cohen, UCI undergraduate; Gomez; Sally Mouakkad, UCI undergraduate; Shahrooz Shahandeh ’08; and Sergio Prince, public affairs executive director for Supervisor Pat Bates. Seated from left: Paula Garb, anthropology adjunct associate professor and co-director of UCI’s Center for Citizen Peacebuilding; Omar Bustami, UCI undergraduate; Ali Malik, UCI undergraduate; and Daniel Wehrenfennig, UCI doctoral candidate.

Photo by Darcy Fehringer
Orange County Human Relations Commission Awards
Olive Tree Initiative
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