The Alumni Honors Banquet is the first night of Alumni Weekend. For a complete schedule and online registration, visit the Alumni Weekend web page.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS AWARD:
AARON MEYER '95

Aaron Meyer graduated from Lewis & Clark College in 1995 with a B.S. in Natural Science. Aaron W. Meyer, who made his stage debut as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 11, combines classical, world, and popular music in a blend often called classical crossover. He has performed at two World Peace Conferences, with Pink Martini, for the Dalai Lama, in Thailand to raise money for tsunami relief, and with orchestras and ballet companies as well as artists such as Smokey Robinson and the group Everclear.

In collaboration with recording artist, producer, and composer Bill Lamb '88, Meyer has also released four albums. Two more are due out this November. The pair and their eight-piece band have performed a full concert of their music with the Oregon Symphony and were commissioned by Lewis & Clark College to compose the sound track for a 13-hour Oregon Public Broadcasting radio series Unfinished Journey: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, which airs this month.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD:
PAUL BARKER '71

This award honors an alumnus/a for rendering superior performance in his or her chosen field and superior service to his or her chosen community.

Paul Barker graduated from Lewis & Clark College in 1971 with a B.A. in History and in 1981 with an M.A.T. in Social Studies. Barker has been the Country Director of CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) in Afghanistan since 2001. Prior to this tour of duty (his second with Afghanistan), he was the Country Director in Ethiopia (1999-2001), Afghanistan (1995-1999), and West Bank/Gaza (1994-1995). He was also the Assistant Country Director in Egypt (1988-1990) and a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran (1971-1976).

During Paul’s first tour of duty in Afghanistan, the Taliban came to power. The Taliban banned women’s employment except in medicine, banned schooling for girls, and banned a host of other things—even down to the trimming of men’s beards. While Paul and CARE opposed the Taliban’s oppressive social restrictions, Paul carefully engaged Taliban leaders—speaking to them in their own language—to win an agreement for CARE to continue operating, even with women employees. When the Taliban objected to including the Afghani girls in the community schools CARE helped organize, Paul, a Quaker, used the teachings of Islam to aid the communities in defending their schools. The school program grew and girls were involved.

DONALD G. BALMER CITATION:
JAMES FORMAN '81

This award honors an alumnus/a, faculty or staff member, or friend of Lewis & Clark who has rendered outstanding voluntary service to the College.

Jamie Forman '81 is a partner with the law firm of Rider Bennett, LLP. He is the past chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group and co-chairs the firm's Temporary Restraining Order Practice Group. He is a past member of the firm's Business Development Committee and past chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee. He was named a "Super Lawyer" in 2001 and 2003 by Minnesota Law and Politics.

Jamie is active with the American Bar Association (ABA). He is a member of the ABA's Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the Editorial Board of the Business Law Section's Business Law Today. He is a past chair of the ABA's Steering Committee on the Unmet Legal Needs of Children; the Steering Committee released in August of 2001 America's Children Still at Risk. He is also a fellow of the ABA's Young Lawyer's Division and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Jamie is the past president of the Board of Alumni and has been involved in numerous volunteer efforts with the College.

More information on the Alumni Honors Program