Nearly three hundred guests including dozens of alumni and current residents assembled on May 9, 2006, for the 18th annual International House Celebration and Awards Gala. Professor Steven C. Rockefeller, noted environmentalist and grandson of International House founder John D. Rockefeller, Jr., keynoted the event, which recognized the culmination of the 75th academic year of I-House operations and the world-wide celebrations and campaign taking place in conjunction with this milestone.

The Vice-President of the I-House Board, Cal alumna Martha Sam Hertelendy, was honored as International House Global Citizen of the Year 2006 for her dedicated service to international organizations
throughout the Bay Area. Musical and dance performances by residents and a delicious menu by Narsai David rounded out the night. The Emmy-award winning Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir provided a rousing grand finale for the event, which was hosted by Peter Robertson and the 75th Anniversary Campaign Leadership Committee. The evening was anticipated to secure $100,000 towards the 75th Anniversary Campaign and The Kresge Challenge.

View a Flash photo slideshow of the event:

About the Honorees:

• Press Release
• Program

Steven C. Rockefeller
Grandson of International House founder/benefactor John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Steven C. Rockefeller is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Middlebury College, Vermont, where he taught for 30 years and served as dean of the college and chair of the religion department. He received his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and his Ph.D. in the philosophy of religion from Columbia University. Professor Rockefeller is a noted author of books and articles on sustainable development, global ethics and the interrelation of ecology, democracy, and spirituality.

Over the past ten years, Professor Rockefeller has been actively involved in the Earth Charter Initiative, which, through an extensive world wide, cross-cultural dialogue, has endeavored to identify and articulate shared values that provide an ethical foundation for the emerging global community. He chaired the Earth Charter international drafting committee from 1997-2000, and currently serves with Erna Witoelar of Indonesia as co-chair of the Earth Charter International Council.

Active in the field of philanthropy, Professor Rockefeller chairs the board of trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, an international grant making foundation based in New York City with programs in Democratic Practice, Sustainable Development, Peace and Security, and Arts and Culture. He is also a trustee of the Asian Cultural Council. From 1999 to 2003, Professor Rockefeller served as a member of the Council of the University for Peace in Costa Rica, which was founded by the United Nations.

Steven C. Rockefeller provided keynote

Martha Sam Hertelendy
Widely recognized for her passionate commitment and involvement in global issues, Martha Hertelendy's extensive service to Bay Area, national, and international organizations has spanned three decades.

Having been raised in Peru of Chinese Peruvian ancestry, Ms. Hertelendy is fluent in Spanish, Cantonese and French and holds a graduate degree in Education for Developing Countries. President of the GRAMP Foundation, she currently also serves as Vice-President to the Global Village Foundation, Vice-Chair of the World Affairs Council, Commissioner to the Asian Art Museum, Board member to the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy and the Stanford Archaeology Center, and Vice-President of the Board at International House, Berkeley, where she also serves as Chair of the Executive Committee.

Her prior affiliations include work with CARE, The International Diplomacy Council (SF), Conservation International, Ladies of the San Francisco Consular Corps, and American Women for International Understanding, among many others.

Martha Hertelendy is a recipient of a Congressional Certificate of Recognition for her multifaceted service work and International House is proud to recognize her as its 2006 Global Citizen of the Year.

Martha Hertelendy is
Global Citizen of the Year