The Thong H. Huynh Awards are presented annually by the Davis Human Relations Commission. The commission, established in 1983, is charged with developing positive human relations through greater education and understanding, and encouraging and promoting equal opportunity under the law.
The awards commemorate the life of Huynh, a Davis Senior High School student who was stabbed to death May 4, 1983, in a racially motivated fight on campus. The first award was given in 1986. The perpetual plaque hangs in the lobby of the Community Chambers next to city hall.
The city of Davis Human Relations Commission is seeking nominations for the 2013 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 15, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. Award nomination forms may be obtained online at http://www.cityofdavis.org/, at City Hall (23 Russell Boulevard) or by calling at (530) 757-5602.
Awards
Lifetime Achievement: Recognition for significant civil rights efforts over a long period of time while improving the quality of life in Davis. This may be an individual or an organization that has promoted positive human relations in the community.
Humanitarian Award: Recognition for significant efforts in improving the quality of life for Davis residents. Nominees have directly addressed the needs of specific groups within the community in the areas of health, human services, housing and employment.
Civil Rights Advocacy: Recognition for significant efforts and achievement while speaking on behalf of those who have little voice, are unable to speak for themselves or cannot assert their civil rights.
Community Education and Awareness: Recognition for educational efforts while promoting positive human relations, civil rights, cultural awareness, and peaceful means of conflict resolution. These efforts have increased awareness of and appreciation for differences in our multicultural community.
Excellence in Community Involvement: Recognition of a business or professional organization 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.
Peace Officer of the Year: Recognition of a Davis or Yolo County police officer who has displayed exceptional interpersonal skills under challenging circumstances. Theses efforts have resulted in effective conflict resolution or intervention and have promoted positive human relations in our multicultural and diverse community.
Past recipients
2012
Lifetime Achievement Award: Martha Beetley Young Humanitarian Award: Anna Sturla and Henry Anker Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Cruz Reynoso Excellence in Community Involvement Award: Davis Food Co-op Public Servent of the Year: Tim Taylor
2011
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jack Forbes Humanitarian Award: Lea Rosenberg Young Humanitarian Award: Desiré Campusano Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Amagda Perez Community Education and Awareness Award: Davis High School Race and Social Justice Class Excellence in Community Involvement Award: Davis Bridge Educational Foundation Peace Officers of the Year: John Neves and Peter Faeth
2010
Clara Robison Moriah Malot Nu Alpha Kappa Dan LaFond Elizabeth Fung Joaquin Galvan Emily Henderson Cathy Speck
2009
Verena Bortin Dorothy Foytik Community Education and Awareness Award: David Greenwald St. Martin's Capt. Darren Fyth Rev. Kristin Stoneking
2008
Lifetime Achievement Award: Lois Grau Humanitarian Award: Will and Jane Lotter Young Humanitarian Award: Amanda Lopez-Lara Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Cindy Burger Community Education and Awareness Award: Lisa Mowry and Jeanne Reeve Excellence in Community Involvement Award: Meal Volunteers for Davis Community Peace Officer of the Year: Trease Petersen
2007
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mel Trujillo Humanitarian Award: Michelle Reardon; Mariko Yamada Young Humanitarian Award: Youth for Hope Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Freddie Oakley Community Education and Awareness: Hamza El-Nakhal Excellence in Community Involvement: Davis Wiki
Photos
2006
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Shelly Bailes and Ellen Pontac; Yvonne Marsh Humanitarian Award: Arun and Mimi Sen Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Carlos Matos Community Education and Awareness Awards: Jasmine Jane Cho; Ingrid Hogle; Rev. Sarah Motley; Youth in Focus/Catalyst for Social Justice Excellence in Community Involvement Awards: International Parent-Child Learning Center; KDRT Radio, 95.7 FM
Note: The Davis City Council issued the awards for this year, instead of the Human Relations Commission
2005
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tansey Thomas Humanitarian Award: Hannah and Ernie Biberstein Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Jann Murray-Garcia Community Education and Awareness Award: Cindy Litman Excellence in Community Involvement Award: Concilio of Yolo County Peace Officer Award: Davis police officer Keirith Briesenick and Capt. Steve Pierce
2004
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jerry Kaneko Humanitarian Award: Herbert Bauer and the late Hanna Bauer Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Gay Powers Community Education and Awareness Award: Karen Roth Excellence in Community Involvement Award: Kinko's of Davis Peace Officer Award: Yolo County Sheriff's Deputy Dave Heller
2003
Lifetime Achievement Award: William D Kopper Humanitarian Award: Corky Brown Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Natalie Wormeli Excellence in Community Involvement Award: UC Davis Women's Resource and Research Center Community Education and Awareness Awards: Marc Hicks Peace Officer Award: Paul Doroshov
2002
Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Livingston Humanitarian Award: Pat and Bill Williams Civil Rights Advocacy Award: Rev. Tim Malone Excellence in Community Involvement Award: Davis Community Television (DCTV) Community Education and Awareness Awards: Elias Rashmawi; Alan Brownstein Peace Officer Award: Chris King
1996
Terry Turner DARE, Davis Asians for Racial Equality Francisco Rodriguez Calvin Handy
1993
Davis Community Meals Grace Kim Dick Nishi Charles Holmes Dusty McAuley Desmond Jolly Rick Gonzales
1987
Peg Waring International House