INTERNATIONAL HOUSE HONORS RETIRING CHANCELLOR TIEN

At a recent Sunday Supper, Chancellor Tien (right) greets I-House residents Yuto Takagi from Japan and Evelyne de Beer from the Netherlands.

From left: Adrian Kragen, Orville and Elli Golub, and Miranda Heller celebrate the successful completion of the Capital Campaign.

nternational House is proud to honor retiring U.C. Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien for his distinguished leadership in fostering excellence through diversity on the Berkeley campus. Tien will be honored at the ninth annual Celebration and Awards Dinner on Wednesday, April 30, at International House.

aving had the experience of being an international student, Tien has a special appreciation for International House. Thirty-eight years ago when he left Taiwan to study at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, he felt "terribly isolated and scared," he recalls. "There was racial segregation everywhere and signs for `colored' and `whites.' I had very little contact with white Americans, and one of my professors derisively called me a `Chinaman" in front of the other students. If only we'd have had an I-House there," says Tien who is President of the I-House Board of Directors.

hancellor Tien is deeply committed to maintaining excellence and to broadening the democratic reach of education to all. In engagements that frequently span the globe, he vigorously pursues the goals of enhancing communications between East and West and promoting democracy and freedom around the world. Tien is a respected world leader in education with a rare ability to promote ties across Asian.

ast year, when Chancellor Tien announced his plans to step down, the news stunned the campus community. Tien will leave when the campus is at a high point. During his tenure as Chancellor, Cal was named the nation's No. 1 research university, the campus attracted a diverse student body and broke records for fund raising among public universities. The affable Tien - who is frequently seen strolling around campus talking to students, visiting classes, and leading cheers at Cal football games - even takes pleasure in Berkeley's protesters. "It's part of the Berkeley tradition, I value this dearly."

t the Celebration and Awards Dinner, Laura D'Andrea Tyson, former Chair of the White House Economic Council, will make a special tribute to Chancellor Tien.

he I-House community will also honor Bechtel Foundation and Bechtel Family as Corporate Honorees in appreciation for generosity and leadership given to International House for more than twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. S.D. Bechtel, Jr. and Mr. And Mrs. Riley Bechtel will accept the honors.

he gala event's co-chairs are Dennis and Elizabeth Bonney, Mr. And Mrs. Charles Foster and the Port of Oakland, Miranda Heller and Jerry Tone, and Arun and Rummi Sarin. Melinda Carmack, Director of Development, is coordinating the event.

ith nearly 300 guests expected to attend, this gala celebration brings together business, diplomatic and education leaders as well as current residents who will provide a vibrant array of performances from around the world. Residents will greet guests and serve as hosts. Individual tickets are available at $200 per person. Proceeds support programs and scholarships. Last year's event raised more than $62,000 for International House.