The Arizona State University Alumni Association will honor faculty members and alumni involved in solving challenges with world-changing consequences at its Founders’ Day Awards Dinner, set for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix.
The award ceremony has been a signature event for the university for decades, and it honors individuals who exemplify the spirit of the founders of the Territorial Normal School of Arizona, ASU’s predecessor institution, who received their charter from the Thirteenth Territorial Legislature on March 7, 1885.
“We will continue our partnership with the ASU Foundation at the 2010 Founders’ Day festivities related to the Challenges Project at ASU,” said Christine K. Wilkinson, ASU Alumni Association president. “The faculty, staff, alumni and ASU supporters we will be honoring are immersed in resolving the most pressing issues of our time—sustainability, education, economic security, and much more.”
A highlight of this year’s event will be the debut of a new award, the Philanthropist of the Year. The ASU Foundation is a partner in presenting the award.
“Philanthropists are a key part of our team at ASU,” Wilkinson said. “Their vision for a better university helps us create a better world. We’re proud to honor these generous individuals, who enable ASU to embody the bold ideas that are at the heart of the New American University concept.”
The following individuals will be honored at the Founders’ Day event.
James W. Creasman Award of Excellence
About the award: The Creasman award is presented to an individual or group whose contributions to the Alumni Association, the university, and the community illustrate qualities exemplified by James W. Creasman, a key contributor to the success of the ASU Alumni Association over his six decades of service to Arizona State.
Honoree: Craig Weatherup ’67 B.S., former CEO/chairman, PepsiCo
Craig Weatherup is being honored for his leadership and his philanthropic service to Arizona State University.
Weatherup spent 24 years in leadership positions with PepsiCo, Inc., including four years as the company’s CEO and chairman of the board. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Federated Department Stores, Starbucks Coffee Company and The Arizona Nature Conservancy.
Weatherup has contributed to the university in many capacities. He served for five years as the chairman of the board of directors for the ASU Foundation, and stepped into the role of interim president/CEO of the foundation to ensure continuity of leadership.
His philanthropic focus at ASU has included revitalizing the university’s athletic infrastructure. He and his wife Connie led the Sun Devil Legacy Campaign and provided a $5 million lead gift to create the Weatherup Center, a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility and training center for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Weatherup was nominated for the award by William Kavan ’92 B.A., advancement product owner, SunGard Higher Education, and chair of the ASU Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Philanthropist of the Year
About the award: Making its debut at the 2010 Founders’ Day celebration, the ASU Foundation’s Philanthropist of the Year Award gives the foundation and the university the opportunity to thank community-minded citizens who make a difference by providing support to community organizations and institutions. Those recognized by this prestigious honor are shining examples of how individuals can have a major impact on people’s lives and on social issues.
Honorees: Gregory and Emma Melikian
Gregory and Emma Melikian are Phoenix civic leaders whose commitment to urban development, historic preservation, culture and the arts has made a profound impact upon the quality of life in Arizona. They represent the values of civic engagement and excellence that rest at the heart of the New American University.
Gregory Melikian was born in New York City, the son of parents who had fled the Armenian massacres during World War I. Following military service during World War II, he practiced real estate law before assuming a position as a civil judge in the New York City municipal court system.
Emma Melikian was born in Persia (modern-day Iran) to an Armenian family that had earlier fled the Soviet Union. She eventually settled in New York City. She became founding president of Thank You America, a charitable organization of immigrant Americans offering educational support to needy children.
The Melikians moved to Phoenix during a period of unprecedented development for the metro area. Mr. Melikian, who worked for the commercial real estate firm Great Western Realty, was integral to the restoration of more than a dozen historic properties in the state during the 1960s, including the landmark Hotel San Carlos in downtown Phoenix.
The couple has four children—Robert, Richard, James, and Ramona—all of whom attended Arizona State University. Beginning in the 1970s, the Melikian family began a pattern of support for ASU that includes endowment of the Melikian Center and its Critical Languages Institute, one of the nation’s leading international research and training centers for regional study of Russia, Eurasia and Eastern Europe.