Originally published Nov. 7, 2024, by Sacramento State University Communications

Each year, Sacramento State honors people who represent the University’s values by making outstanding contributions to the campus, community and society.

The Alumni Association has recognized the accomplishments of these individuals since 1972 with the Distinguished Alumni Awards.

The Alumni Association this year has selected six individuals to receive the awards. Three alumni have received Distinguished Service Awards, which recognize professional achievements and community service. A fourth alumnus has received the Rising Star Award, which goes to an up-and-coming recent graduate, while the Honorary Alumna Award recognizes an individual who is not a Sac State alum but has made significant contributions to the University.

This year, a Lifetime Achievement Award will honor a Sac State graduate who has set high standards of excellence in their personal and professional lives, and has accomplished exceptional contributions in their career, to the campus and in the community.

An awards ceremony honoring this year’s recipients is Nov. 7 at the Harper Alumni Center.

Click each name below to read more about the award recipients.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Ron Brown ’86 (Construction Management)

President/CEO, Brown Construction, Inc.

Ron Brown graduated from Sacramento State in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management and today is the owner, president and CEO of Brown Construction, a local contracting firm responsible for dozens of well-known buildings to the Sacramento area. He has also given back to Sac State and the region in many ways through his career. Brown’s peers all point out his use of the mantra “be a good human,” a phrase he often says to them when bidding farewell. It also is the embodiment of Brown himself.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Vu D. Nguyen ’95 (Criminal Justice) – posthumous honoree

Detective, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office

Vu Nguyen earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1995 from Sacramento State and graduated with honors. He went on to become the sheriff’s department’s top recruit. Nguyen died in the line of duty in 2007 but lives on through nonprofit groups the Vu Nguyen Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to high school seniors who want to pursue careers in public service, and Breaking Clays for Vu, which raises money for families of fallen officers.

California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas ’03 (Government)

California State Assembly Speaker

California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who graduated with a degree in Government from Sac State in 2003, was elected to the State Assembly in 2018 and represents the Pajaro and Salinas valleys of the Central Coast. Rivas has advocated for the improvement of affordable housing in California and led efforts to accelerate the construction of renewable energy.

Marco A. Rodriguez ’91 (Business/Finance)

Investment Advisor Representative, Principal Financial Group; Chairman of the Board, Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California

Marco Rodriguez, the son of farmworkers, immigrated to the U.S. when he was 19 years old and worked his way through school before graduating from Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance. Today, he is a senior financial advisor and branch manager for Principal Finance Group. Rodriguez gives back by using his business savvy and talent for generating money to help community nonprofits.

RISING STAR AWARD

Noel Mora ’18, MPPA ’21 (Government/Public Policy Administration)

Community Partnership Coordinator, Sacramento State; Trustee, Natomas Unified School District

Noel Mora, who earned two degrees from Sac State and continues to contribute to the University and the broader community, has served Sac State as president of Associated Students Inc. while a student and now as community partnership coordinator in the Community Engagement Center. Mora, who is also a Natomas Unified School District trustee, has dedicated his career to promoting civic engagement and helping underrepresented students succeed.

HONORARY ALUMNA AWARD

Elizabeth H. Shattuck

Co-Founder and Ex-President of Capital Public Radio Endowment; Faculty widow

Elizabeth Shattuck and her late husband, longtime History Professor Peter Shattuck, have over the years donated more than $2 million to help promote faculty excellence and support students who otherwise would not have the financial resources to attend college. In addition, in 2016, Shattuck established the Shattuck Endowment and Peter H. Shattuck Endowed Chair in Colonial History in memory of her husband. Beyond Sac State, Shattuck has also supported numerous local organizations.

For more information about the Distinguished Alumni Awards, visit the Sacramento State Alumni Association web page.