“From the Earth to the Stars…”
UCSC Foundation Medal, 2002-Present
The UCSC Foundation Medal “recognizes individuals of exceptionally distinguished achievement whose work and contribution to society illustrate the ideals and vision of UC Santa Cruz.” The Medal was designed in 2002 by Sean M. Monaghan to express the unique intellectual, social, cultural, environmental and educational qualities of University of California Santa Cruz and its reach of influence. Each Foundation Medal includes a unique base made of ancient limestone from the UCSC campus. (The Henry Cowell Ranch Lime Works produced lime from 1850-1920, carted by horse down to the wharf, and perserving the land from further development until the founding of the UCSC campus in 1965.) Atop the natural limestone base is a bronze collar, signed, dated and cast by the artist, which supports a bronze gimbal with an optical-quality lens. The custom ‘lens’ is a composite of three pieces of glass, laminated, ground and polished at the Optical Lab at UCSC. The clear elements are high-purity fused silica. The amber/opalescent center wedge is made of Zerodur, uniquely ideal for large telescope mirrors in open domes since it is unaffected by changes in temperature. The golden Zerodur represents a ray of light emanating from the etched star, echoing Fiat Lux (Let There Be Light) from the original Regent’s Seal, designed by Tiffany & Co. of New York in 1910. This hand-made art piece is a symbol for the quest of Humanity to broaden its reach toward compassion and understanding in every endeavor.
Julie Packard
Alumna and renowned ocean conservationist and co-founder of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 2024 Recipient of the UCSC Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Award and UC Presidential Medal.
Margaret Atwood
Author, poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist and inventor, 2020 Recipient
Janet Yellen
American economist, educator, 78th United States Secretary of the Treasury and 15th Chair of the Federal Reserve, 2019 Recipient
Alice Waters
Chef and Food Activist, 2015 Recipient
Toni Morrison
Author, Introduced by Angela Davis, 2014 Recipient
Frank Gehry
Architect, 2013 Recipient
Jean Michel Cousteau
Oceanographer and Environmentalist, 2010 Recipient
Ed Catmull
President of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, 2009 Recipient
Robert Sinsheimer
Innovative Molecular Biologist and Former UCSC Chancellor, 2007 Recipient
100 Banana Slug ‘Campaign for UCSC’ Donor Awards
Campus-wide fundraising effort to carry on the legacy of UCSC by building resources for the future, supporting our students, faculty, programs, and facilities. 2017
Peter Bratt
Filmaker, 2010
UCSC Academic Senate Mace
Made of Bronze, UCSC Campus Limestone and the Original Redwood Staff engraved with Campus Founders’ names. Designed by Sean M. Monaghan, the Academic Senate Mace is the emobiment of the ‘Intellectual and Moral Authority’ of the University. Presented for the first time at the Formal Inauguration Ceremony of Chancellor George Blumenthal in 2008.
Wiseguy Award
Bronze and Granite, 9″ High, 2006-2008
Legal Community Against Violence Award
Bronze and Walnut, 8″ High, 1997 and 1998
Awarded to Bill Clinton in 1997 and to Diane Feinstein in 1998 for their commitment to fighting gun violence. Award created after the mass shooting on the 34th floor of law offices at 101 California St. in San Francisco in 1993. Eight were killed and six injured by a gunman with an assault rifle. The incident was instrumental in passing the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, commonly referred to as the 1994 Crime Bill, the Clinton Crime Bill, or the Biden Crime Law. It is the largest crime bill in the history of the United States. It included a subsection called the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) and included a prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms that were defined as assault weapons, as well as certain ammunition magazines defined as large capacity. The 10-year ban was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994. The ban applied only to weapons manufactured after the date of the ban’s enactment. It expired on September 13, 2004, in accordance with its sunset provision. Multiple attempts to renew the ban have not succeeded.
