City of Davis Seeks Nominees for Thong Hy Huynh Awards

DAVIS, CA -- The City of Davis Human Relations Commission is seeking nominations for this year's Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Awards. The award was established to acknowledge the racially motivated stabbing death of high school student Thong Hy Huynh on the Davis Senior High School campus in 1983.

Mayor Davis states “The Thong Hy Huynh Award honors community members and local organizations whose actions exemplify the goals of diversity, community, social justice and equal rights. The City Council, along with the Human Relations Commission, looks forward to recognizing groups and individuals with achievements in these areas and acknowledging their contributions to bettering our community.”

The Commission encourages groups and individuals to submit award nominations prior to the deadline of 5 pm on Friday, March 10.

Nominations may be submitted in any of the following five categories:

Lifetime Achievement
Awarded for significant civil rights efforts over a long period of time while improving the quality of life in Davis. The recipient may be an individual or community organization that has promoted positive human relations in the community.

Young Humanitarian
Awarded to an individual in grades K-16 (elementary through undergraduate or equivalent) for significant efforts in improving the quality of life in Davis. Nominees have directly addressed the needs of specific groups within the community in the areas of human or civil rights or education.

Civil Rights Advocacy
Awarded to an individual or organization for significant efforts and achievement in any of the following areas:
Speaking on behalf of, and giving voice to, the disadvantaged and disempowered.
Promoting positive human relations, civil rights, cultural awareness or peaceful means of conflict resolution.
Improving the quality of life for Davis residents through the areas of health, human services, housing or employment.

Excellence in Community Involvement (Awarded to a For-Profit Business and/or Non-Profit Organization)
Awarded to a business or organization that has a record of significant efforts in promoting and practicing equal opportunity, positive human relations, and/or civil rights in Davis.

Public Servant of the Year
Awarded to a local public servant who has displayed exceptional interpersonal skills under challenging circumstances. These efforts have resulted in effective conflict resolution or intervention and have promoted positive human relations in our multicultural and diverse community.
Recipients in 2016 included Sean Raycraft for his Civil Rights Advocacy, the Gay Straight Alliance as Young Humanitarians, Mariachi Puente and the Rotary Club of Davis with Bud and Judy Wolf for their Excellence in Community Involvement, and Jennifer Terra for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Award nomination forms and more information may be obtained online at www.cityofdavis.org, at City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd or by calling (530) 757-5602. Nominations will be accepted through 5 p.m. Friday, March 10.

Image via City of Davis