USD Magazine Summer 2016

ALUMNI  NEWS

Held at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, the April 2016 Alumni Honors event was a reflection of the unique character of the University of San Diego.

2016 Alumni Honor s ce l ebrates c rowning achi evement s [ l a u d a t o r y ] ONE ENCHANTED EVENING

(BS/BA), ’03 (BA) leads a Microsoft team dedicated to increasing performance and reducing costs associated with cloud computing. The Honorable Dave Camp ’78 (JD) represented Michigan’s 4th district in the House of Repre- sentatives for 24 years, including a stint as chairman of the power- ful Ways and Means Committee. A San Diego native and attor- ney who developed an abiding love for Mexican culture, Janice Deaton ’10 (MA) is leading change in the Mexican legal system, training lawyers and judges in oral advocacy skills. The CEO of Sharp Chula Vista Hospital, Pablo Velez ’06 (PhD) has been instrumental in that facility’s ascent to becoming the largest heath care provider in San Diego’s South County. The founder of the online mortgage banking business AimLoan.com, Vince Kasperick ’84 (BBA) is also founder of the San Diego Blues Festival, a fund- raiser and food-raiser that sup- ports the San Diego Food Bank. The career of Maj. Gen. William M. Matz Jr. (Ret.) ’73 (MA) included tours of duty in Vietnam, where he savage TET offensive. His combat decorations include the Silver Star for valor and the Distinguished Service Cross for extreme gallantry and risk of life in combat. received the Purple Heart for wounds received during the

NICK ABADILLA

Senior Class Legacy scholarship, Sam Attisha ’89 (BBA), a former student body president, has been an active member of the USD community for 30 years. A four-year starter for the Torero soccer team, Leigh Ann (Robinson) Brown ’08 (BA) went on to a suc- cessful professional career and played on two U.S. National teams. Diana Combs Neebe ’08 (MEd) teaches high school English and is pioneering technology in the classroom. One example: she worked with students to create an online, interactive edition of The Scarlet Letter . A triple-major at USD (comput- er science, physics and electrical engineering ), Andrew Putnam ’03

2016 Alumni Honorees (left to right, above): Janice Deaton ’10 (MA); Andrew Putnam ’03 (BS/BA), ’03 (BA); Sam K. Attisha ’89 (BBA); Leigh Ann (Robinson) Brown ’08 (BA); the Honorable Dave Camp ’78 (JD); Vincent J. Kasperick ’84 (BBA); Maj. Gen. William M. Matz Jr. (Ret.) ’73 (MA); Diana Combs Neebe ’08 (MEd); Pablo Velez ’06 (PhD); Miguel D. Vasquez ’94 (BBA).

by Tim McKernan

honorees were as follows: Homeless as a teenager,

A

lumni Honors, USD’s annual alumni celebra- tion, turned 21 this year.

Miquel Vasquez ’94 (BBA) forged a successful career in banking before leaving the financial industry to launch the California Foundation Fund to improve financial literacy in poor and minority communities. One of the founders of the

Like most 21 st birthdays, it was a night to remember. The April event at the sold-out IPJ Theatre was a reflection of remarkable achievements and of the unique character of USD. The

sandiego.edu/alumni/honors

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SUMMER 2016