by Anita Brown, Program Officer

As Stanford University’s honorary organization for exemplary alumni volunteers, Stanford Associates recognizes and encourages volunteer service through membership, awards and grants. Individuals who have demonstrated excellence in volunteer service are nominated for awards by Stanford staff members in the fall of each year, and the Stanford Associates Board of Governors reviews the nominations and selects award winners.

Awards include: the Gold Spike Award “for exceptional volunteer leadership service,” the Stanford Medal “for decades of distinguished and significant volunteer service to Stanford University,” the Degree of Uncommon Man & Uncommon Woman “for rare and extraordinary service to the university,” and the Award of Merit for exceptional volunteer service during a given period, usually one year.

PVF Executive Director James Higa recently received the Governors’ Award (formerly the “Stanford Associates Award,” established in 1980). A maximum of 15 awards are given annually to Stanford Associates members to honor exemplary volunteer service to the University over an extended period. These individuals are honored for their ongoing and uncommon gift of self, time, and energy to the University.

The Governors’ Award was presented to James at the Stanford Associates Award Ceremony in April 2018 “for his uniquely innovative approaches to any challenge; for being an indispensable and long-serving advisor for the Stanford University Libraries, helping to modernize and revolutionize its services and collections; for service as an integral member of the Haas Center for Public Service National Advisory Board, always seeking to engage students and faculty to help solve society’s most pressing problems; for instrumental work in guiding the foundation of the OVAL program and its alumni interview efforts for the Office of Undergraduate Admission; for contagious enthusiasm and creative outreach as a co-chair of his 35th Reunion; for his strategic guidance as an advisor to the Distinguished Careers Institute, helping transition highly accomplished individuals into roles with social impact, as he has done in his own life; and for always sharing passion, intellect, and sound advice in his wide-reaching service to the university.”