UCLA Medal

The double Bruin, who has been a longtime leader in the fields of law and philanthropy, was honored for her dedication to social justice.

The building, which is named the UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center, will house labor research, teaching and service for decades to come.

Torres, a labor organizer and lawmaker who was among the first Latino congressmen from California in the 20th century, will receive the campus’s highest honor on July 22.

Professor Patricia Turner reflects fondly on getting to spend time with one of her heroes, the civil rights icon who made a career out of getting in “good trouble.”

Kleinrock was awarded the campus’s highest honor for his contributions in providing the intellectual foundation for the modern technical age.

The genre-defying artist whose career has highlighted a commitment to breaking barriers was awarded the campus’s highest honor.

His best known work — the groundbreaking novel “City of Night” — redefined writing about the gay community. Rechy will receive the award Oct. 24.

Smith will receive the campus’s highest honor on Nov. 8 during a ceremony and concert at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

Sherie is a world-renowned immunologist and Don is an award-winning professor of marketing research. They have both left their imprints on campus.

The honor recognizes the couple’s efforts to ‘create opportunity for all through education and research.’

Through the Shapiro Family Charitable Foundation, the couple have been prolific philanthropists who have supported medical and environmental research, as well as education, arts and children’s welfare programs.

Martin Luther King Jr. once hailed Lawson as the world’s leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence.

“Morton’s leadership and philanthropy are testaments to his belief that the true measure of a life is not what you get, but what you give,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block.

The longtime Univision news anchor receives UCLA’s highest honor in front of an appreciative crowd at Luskin Lecture event.

From taking radio into orbit to pioneering work on organ transplants, Rothblatt was recognized for a lifetime of accomplishments.

In recognition of a life filled with accolades and dedicated to mentoring future leaders, he was awarded UCLA’s highest honor.

“By addressing health disparities and promoting health equity... she has raised the public profile of health care access as a true social justice issue,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block.

The singer and conductor, who has guided opera in Los Angeles for decades, also conducted a public master class at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

In presenting the campus’s highest honor, Chancellor Gene Block praised the poet’s achievements as both an artist and an activist.

“He has been a powerful champion for the arts in Los Angeles for five decades, and his exceptional commitment to arts education embodies UCLA’s highest ideals,” said Chancellor Gene Block.

The 83-year-old’s work destroying household objects and creating sculpture from the detritus created sharp commentaries on global conflict, consumerism and nuclear war.

The civil rights icon delivered the fifth annual Winston C. Doby Distinguished Lecture to a rapt audience and also received the university’s highest honor.

The all-time Bruin basketball great has been a prolific writer and advocate for equality.

A UCLA alumnus and Olympic medal winner, Johnson helped found the Special Olympics and has been a champion of equality for everyone.

The couple, both UCLA alumni, received the campus’s highest honor for more than six decades of philanthropy and leadership that has benefited myriad organizations.