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The outstanding achievements of three alumni, two faculty members and seven graduating seniors will be recognized by the University of California, San Diego Alumni Association at its annual awards gala June 12 in the Price Center Pavilion.

The honorees include Carol Becker, Ph.D. ’75, Dean of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Craig Venter, BS ’72, Ph.D. ’75, president of Celera Genomics in Rockville, Md.; Mark Kritchevsky, M.D. ’77, director of the Neurology Residency Program with the UCSD School of Medicine; Jorge Mariscal, Department of Literature, and Paul Saltman, Department of Biology. Names of the seven outstanding graduating seniors will be announced in late May.

The awards gala not only recognizes those individuals who have made significant impact in their chosen field, but also raises scholarship funds for National Merit Scholars at UCSD, said Bernie Farrow, executive director of UCSD Alumni Relations. The continuing support of alumni, community members and corporate sponsors guarantees financial assistance to these exceptional young scholars who are the business and community leaders, researchers and teachers of tomorrow, she added.

Becker, who will receive the Outstanding Alumna Award, is recognized as an important proponent, nationally and internationally, of the view that artists play an important role in democratic societies. Her three books of social and cultural analysis have been translated into half a dozen languages. She has had an enormous impact on art education through her role in directing one of the great art schools in the world today.

Venter will receive the Professional Achievement Award for his research in the field of human genomics. His achievements in the development of new techniques are enabling investigators to map the human genome cheaper and faster than experts thought possible. This breakthrough has attracted corporate and federal government interest in the study of functional genomics and its application in the treatment of genetically based diseases.

Kritchevsky will be honored for Distinguished Teaching. As director of the Neurology Residency Program, he is recognized as the quintessential teacher and is so popular with medical students that he has received 17 teaching awards during his 16 years at UCSD.

Mariscal was selected as recipient of the Distinguished Service to the University Award for his commitment to fostering diversity in the student body. He is credited for creating a sense of dignity in many of California’s young people who, though economically disadvantaged, have learned to draw on their respective individual abilities and cultural heritages in pursuing educational goals.

Saltman will be recognized as Honorary Alumnus for a life that has been dedicated to the inspiration of his students and an ongoing involvement with graduates. For many years he has shared his expertise with science and non-science K-12 teachers throughout San Diego, transforming science education in San Diego.

Among sponsors of the event and their alumnus members are ViaSat, Inc., Steve Hart ’80; Walsh & Chacon, Brian Walsh ’89; Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP, John Carson ’81; Joyce Cutler-Shaw, ’72; Gina Dronet ’76; Mission Federal Credit Union; Inland Entertainment; The Shidler Group, Marc Brutten ’79; Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps; Baker & McKenzie, David Doyle ’73; Barnhorst, Schreiner & Goonan, Steve Schreiner ’80; Kennerson Schwartz Semerdjian & Haile LLP, Ross Schwartz ’79; Wealth & Tax Specialists, Martin Shapiro ‘81’ The Robins Family Foundation and The Preuss Foundation, Peter Preuss ’67.