2015 Alumni Award Honorees
Embracing curiosity and disrupting the status quo is the Triton way. UC San Diego alumni carry an agility and open-minded spirit that sets them apart, as they make a difference at home, in their communities and around the globe.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Mike Judge, '85
Mike Judge, '85 Physics
Mike Judge is an award-winning creator and producer of today’s most popular movies and television series including King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-head, Office Space, Idiocracy and Extract. The physicist turned animator, filmmaker and actor is now working on his latest television series, Silicon Valley, now filming its second season for HBO.
Cindy Marten, M.A. '95
Cindy Marten, M.A. '95, Education Studies
Cindy Marten has shown a tremendous commitment to making a real impact in the San Diego educational community. She has served as an educator for 25 years—as a teacher, an instructional leader and a school principal. In July 2013, Cindy was appointed superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, the second largest school district in the state of California.
Ken Kroner, Ph.D. '88
Ken Kroner, Ph.D. '88, Economics
Ken Kroner is a global finance innovator, who serves as senior managing director, with dual responsibilities of Head of Multi-Asset Strategies and Head of Scientific Active Equity at Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager. In 2011, he and his wife Jennifer created the Kroner Family Endowed Fellowship with a gift to the Division of Social Sciences, allowing stellar students the opportunity to pursue research interests at UC San Diego. Ken serves on the UC San Diego Foundation Board of Trustees and has been a long-time supporter of many campus programs and initiatives.
EMERGING LEADERS
Philip Wang, ’06, Wesley Chan, ’06, and Ted Fu, ’06
Philip Wang, ’06, Wesley Chan, ’06, and Ted Fu, ’06, Visual Arts
Together, Philip Wang, Wesley Chan and Ted Fu run Wong Fu Productions, a growing independent production company. Their well-known YouTube channel has more than 1 million subscribers and has garnered over 200 million views of short films, music videos and video blogs for its large and loyal fan base. Their creative work has been recognized for its striking quality and emotional depth, earning honors and praise from organizations like CNN, NPR, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival.
Pierre Sleiman, M.B.A. ’13
Pierre Sleiman, M.B.A. ’13, Rady School of Management
Pierre Sleiman is the founder and CEO of Go Green Agriculture, an innovative company that grows produce inside climate-controlled greenhouses using hydroponics. His company has more than 400 customers including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Jimbo's Naturally and Hyatt Hotels. In July 2014, Pierre was honored as an Agriculture Champion of Change at the White House alongside other notable leaders who are doing extraordinary things to build the next generation of farming and ranching.
Start a Nomination
We’re seeking nominations for the True Triton Awards, recognizing exceptional volunteers, and the UC San Diego Alumni Awards, showcasing four different categories of impact. This is your opportunity to recognize exceptional alumni who have made a significant difference.