IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine senior track star Charles Jock was among the honorees at the 42nd annual Lauds & Laurels ceremony, sponsored by the UCI Alumni Association Thursday night at the Student Center's Pacific Ballroom.
Jock, a two-time All-American and three-time Big West Conference Track Athlete of the Year, was recognized at the banquet as UCI's Outstanding Student-Athlete. He was among 20 campus faculty, staff and students who were honored.
Jock won the 800 meters at last Saturday's Big West Championships with a meet and stadium-record time of 1:44.75 that currently ranks No. 1 in the U.S. this season.
Another honoree at the Lauds & Laurels ceremony was James Newkirk, who was named Honorary Alumnus. He and his wife, Martha, Ph.D. '81, are longtime campus supporters. They have endowed two fellowships in social ecology, and their name is on the Newkirk Pavilion at Anteater Ballpark and the Newkirk Center for Science & Society. The couple recently made a donation allowing work to begin on the Newkirk Alumni Center, which is expected to be completed this fall.
Michael Gottfredson, executive vice chancellor and provost at UC Irvine, received the Lauds & Laurels Extraordinarius award.
"Lauds & Laurels is our opportunity to publicly recognize and thank those people who make a positive impact on the university and our community," said Jorge Ancona, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and UCIAA executive director, in an earlier statement.
Since the first Lauds & Laurels event in 1971, the UCI Alumni Association has recognized more than 700 people, but Lauds & Laurels is more than an awards ceremony, Ancona said. Net proceeds from table sponsorships and individual ticket sales go to the UCIAA student scholarship fund.
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