Community members and groups in seven categories were recognized with the 2011 Thong Hy Huynh Awards at Tuesday night’s Davis City Council meeting for their contributions to improving civil and human rights issues.

The winners are: Jack Forbes, lifetime achievement; Lea Rosenberg, humanitarian award; Desiré Campusano, young humanitarian award; Amagda Perez, civil rights advocacy; Davis High School Race and Social Justice Class, community education and awareness; Davis Bridge Educational Foundation, excellence in community involvement; and John Neves and Peter Faeth, peace officers of the year.

Forbes, nominated by John Pamperin, died on Feb. 23 at age 77 after spending a lifetime fostering Native American race relations. He was one of the founders of UC Davis’ Native American studies program, established in 1969, as well as a graduate program established in 1999.

He also conceptualized D-Q University, which was the first all-Native American college in the country in 1971.

In addition to his local work with Native American studies, Forbes wrote numerous books and academic articles, including “The American Discovery of Europe” and “Africans and Native Americans.”

Rosenberg was nominated by her husband Dave for her recent efforts to support foster youths and emancipated foster youths. Rosenberg and Soroptimist International of Davis raised funds to help keep foster children in school and purchase bus passes, books, clothing and school supplies. The funds also help foster children cover their living expenses after they become adults.

Additionally, Rosenberg has volunteered in countless capacities throughout the community over the past quarter-century, including working with the Yolo Food Closet, Meals on Wheels and All Things Right & Relevant.

Campusano, nominated by Joaquin Galvan, is an undergraduate student activist at UC Davis. She is a peer advising counselor, mentor in Amig@’s Mentorship Program, co-coordinator for the La Raza Cultural Days for the past year, and volunteer with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center.

Perez, nominated by Joaquin Galvan and Nico De Anda-Scaia, works to improve legal access for rural immigrant communities. As a child, Perez realized that bilingual resources for rural communities were critical, but, in most cases, did not exist. She has worked to bridge that gap her entire life.

Perez graduated from UCD and the UCD School of Law before working for California Rural Legal Assistance and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. She is a professor at the UCD School of Law.

The Davis High School race and social justice class, nominated by Craig Blomberg, established four years ago, provides a historical overview of tolerance and intolerance, helping students recognize the unique filters through which every individual sees the world. The course also requires a group project to research historical and current-day perspectives of a chosen topic.

The Davis Bridge Educational Foundation, nominated by Nico de Anda-Scaia, supports the academic achievement of low-income Davis students, particularly students from Spanish-speaking households in grades K-12.

Davis Bridge, founded by Janet Boulware, provides free tutoring, computer access, school supplies and after-school snacks at four after-school homework clubs. The clubs are staffed by UCD students who are fluent in Spanish and English and who receive course credit for their participation.

Since its inception in 2004, the program connects more than 150 students and 130 UCD students each year at four campuses in the Davis school district.

Davis police Officers Neves and Faeth, nominated by Capt. Darren Pytel, are bicycle officers, and one of their duties is to reach out and work with the homeless population. Despite the general challenge that many who are homeless are reluctant to interact with police and government officials, Faeth and Neves are able to communicate with those in the local homeless population, Pytel says.

The officers “strike a careful balance of providing for safety and order and to ensure the rights of every individual are preserved,” Pytel wrote in his nomination. “Both officers work with a passion to do the right thing and make sure every human being is treated with dignity and respect.”

The annual awards are given in honor of Thong Hy Huynh, a Davis High School student who was stabbed to death in a racially motivated fight on campus in 1983.

Recipients are nominated by community members, then selected by the Davis Human Relations Commission and listed on the city’s perpetual plaque, which is displayed at City Hall.

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Jack Forbes, who died Feb. 23 at age 77, won the Thong Hy Huynh Lifetime Achievement Award from the city of Davis for his tireless efforts in support of Native American causes. Courtesy photo

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Carolyn Forbes, widow of Jack Forbes, introduces her family, from left, son Ken Forbes, grandson Jack O’Hearn and daughter Nancy O’Hearn. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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Lea Rosenberg is the 2011 Humanitarian Award winner. Enterprise file photo

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Davis police Officers John Neves, right, and Peter Faeth won the Thong Hy Huynh Peace Officer of the Year Award from the city of Davis for their ability to reach out and work with the homeless population. The officers “strike a careful balance of providing for safety and order and to ensure the rights of every individual are preserved,” Capt. Darren Pytel wrote in his nomination. “Both officers work with a passion to do the right thing and make sure every human being is treated with dignity and respect.”

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Desiré Campusano, winner of the won the Thong Hy Huynh Young Humanitarian Award, speaks after being introduced by Rochelle Swanson. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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Amagda Perez, second from right, won the Thong Hy Huynh Civil Rights Advocacy Award. Perez is joined by her husband Alvaro and daughter Quetzali as they talk with Jann Murray-Garcia, right, and Gladys Puente, a member of the DHS race and social justice class which won the Thong Hy Huynh Community Education and Awareness Award. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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Kevin Williams, Davis High School race and social justice class teacher, speaks after the class was awarded the Thong Hy Huynh Young Community Education and Awareness Award. From left are Williams, teacher Mike Kanna, Gladys Puente, Andrew Tkach, Moriah Malot, Nikka Tahan and Ali Holder. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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Janet Boulware, left, Davis Bridge Educational Foundation director introduces Celina Rodriguez, her assistant director after the foundation won the Thong Hy Huynh Excellence in Community Involvement Award. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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