August 19, 2004

UCSD Alumni Association Announces Top Award
Recipients To Be Honored At Annual Awards For Excellence Gala

By Mary Johnson

The UCSD Alumni Association has announced that Marcia McNutt and Ancel Keys, both graduates of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, are the top recipients of the 2004 Awards for Excellence distinctions to be awarded on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004.

Marcia McNutt

McNutt, named this year’s Outstanding Alumna, is a Ph.D. ’78 graduate of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She is the president and CEO of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and the Griswold Professor of Geophysics at Stanford University . McNutt will be recognized for her record of accomplishments in fundamental research, teaching, service and scientific leadership.

Her research on the subject of the equilibrium of the earth’s crust on continents and oceans led to fundamental contributions in understanding the evolution of islands. She was the recipient of the coveted American Geophysical Union’s Macelwane Award and later served as president of the society. This past year, the ARCS, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, named her Scientist of the Year.

The Outstanding Alumnus of the Year distinction recognizes an alumna or alumnus of an undergraduate or graduate program of UCSD who has rendered special or outstanding service, or, through personal achievements, brought honor and distinction to the University. Wolfgang Berger, Edward Winterer and John Orcutt of SIO nominated McNutt for this award.

Ancel Keys early in his career.

Ancel Keys, recipient of the Professional Achievement Award, is a 1930 Ph.D. graduate of SIO. In 1961 he appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine and was dubbed Mr. Cholesterol by the popular press for discovering a link between cholesterol and heart disease. He was among the first to apply mathematical regressions and prediction equations to human biology. Commissioned by the government in World War II to study human performance during nutritional deficiency states, he developed a field ration that would have a long shelf life and yet sustain armies in the field that became the eponymous K-ration.

Further research conducted by Keys established that a high fat diet and smoking were significant risk factors in heart disease and coined the term “risk factors” routinely evaluated in all health assessments today. His work in studying whole populations that contrast in diet and lifestyles showed us not only the major causes of premature death from coronary disease, hypertension, stroke and peripheral disease in the industrialized world, but pointed a way to prevention.

The Professional Achievement Award is awarded to an alumna or alumnus of an undergraduate or graduate program of UCSD, with an established record of accomplishments, complemented by significant contributions to a profession. Faculty members Charles Kennel, Richard Rosenblatt and Jeffrey Graham of SIO nominated Keys for this award.

Other recipients to be honored at the October Gala are:

Sheldon Engelhorn ’72, selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award for his ongoing leadership, creativity and resources in raising funds for undergraduate scholarship support.

Barbara Sawrey , Ph.D.‘84, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who will be recognized for Distinguished Teaching. A recipient of numerous teaching awards, Sawrey has had a profound impact on generations of students as a model educator, mentor and campus administrator.

The UCSD Alumni Association will host the 27 th annual Awards for Excellence Gala honoring distinguished alumni, faculty and the top National Merit Scholars at the new Estancia Hotel in La Jolla . All funds generated from the event will benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Program.

For more information, please visit the UCSD Alumni Association website at www.alumni.ucsd.edu or call 858.534.3900.

Media Contacts: Mary Johnson (858) 534-3901