Stanford physician this year’s honored alumnus

Submitted by Joe Hayes
Phone: (907) 474-7081
09/08/05

Stanford physician and Professor of Neonatology William Benitz has been named this year’s Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association.

Benitz, who graduated from the University of Alaska in 1973, is known for his work on early markers for disease and the prevention of Group B streptococcal infection in newborns. He graduated from Stanford in 1978 and has served in several positions in pediatrics and neonatal and developmental medicine. He is currently the director of the Packard Children’s Hospital nursery system, professor of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine in the Stanford Department of Pediatrics and was named the first Philip Sunshine, MD, Professor of Neonatology in 2003.

In 2004, Benitz established the Jack Distad Memorial Scholarship in 2004 named for Jack Distad former professor of mathematics at UAF.

The Distinguished Alumnus award was first awarded in 1962 and continues to recognize specific meritorious service on behalf of the quality and advancement of UAF; distinguished accomplishment in business and professional life; and/or distinguished human service in community affairs.

The award is given annually as part of the UAF alumni reunion, which will take place at UAF Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2005. Benitz along with other award-winners will be honored at a luncheon Friday, Sept. 30 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge.

The Alumni Achievement Awards for Business and Professional Excellence will be presented to Edward Thomas, ’73, president of Tlingit/Haida Corporation and Elaine Woodruff, ’69, professor of English at Colorado Christian University and the first University of Alaska graduate to receive a master of fine arts degree in creative writing at the Fairbanks campus.

The community service award will be presented to Billie Blanchard, ’89, ’95, the president and CEO of the Military and Civilian Federal Credit Union and to Charlie Dexter, ’77, ’83, professor of business at UAF.

The recipients of the university service award are Scott McCrea, `94, marketing director for UAFs Tanana Valley Campus and former UAF Staff Council president and to Richard Caulfield, ’86, the director of TVC.

The William R. Cashen Service Award will be presented to former Alumni Association Director Cathy Persinger, ’79, for outstanding service to the UAF Alumni Association’s Fairbanks chapter.

The reunion, Nanook Traditions: All Fired Up, coincides with Starvation Gulch, a campus tradition since 1923.

As part of Starvation Gulch activities, the Student Activities Office is sponsoring a comedy show Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the American Red Cross to benefit victims of hurricane Katrina. The event will take place in the Salisbury Theatre.

Community members, students and alumni will build bonfires Saturday, Oct. 1 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Taku parking lot off Farmer’s Loop Road. The bonfires will be lit at 10:30 p.m. Saturday following the UAF Blue and Gold hockey game at the Patty Center.

High resolution photos are available for download at http://www.uaf.edu/files/news/download/releasephotos/05/alumni/