UCLA Awards pay tribute to Bruin alumni whose contributions impact the world

The UCLA Alumni Association is celebrating a distinguished group of graduates with UCLA Awards for their inspired leadership, their dedication to Bruin values and their far-reaching contributions to their communities, the university and the world.

"UCLA Awards celebrate the stories our amazing alumni, volunteers and networks who uplift and amplify the voice of the UCLA community," said Julie Sina , UCLA's associate vice chancellor for alumni affairs. "This year, we honor the impactful leadership and service of six alums and one network."

This year's recipients of the awards, which have been a Bruin tradition since 1946, will be recognized May 17 at a ceremony on campus. They are:

Celia Ward-Wallace
Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year

Ward-Wallace is a social justice leader, entrepreneur and changemaker whose visionary work and advocacy has had a life-changing impact on the people and communities of Los Angeles and beyond.

After graduating in 1998 with degrees in sociology and world arts and cultures , she helped launch Girls Play LA, a parks department initiative that has greatly expanded access to sports programs for girls throughout Los Angeles. She went on to co-found South LA Cafe, a transformative enterprise that provides fresh, affordable and healthy food options in underserved neighborhoods while supporting residents with well-paying jobs and career-building and leadership opportunities . The cafe's affiliated South LA Community Foundation, which promotes racial, economic, social and food justice, operates a weekly grocery giveaway that has assisted hundreds of thousands of Angelenos, and it has provided critical support to those impacted by emergencies, including the COVID pandemic and the recent Los Angeles wildfires.

Through these and other efforts - including her work as a consultant to leaders, organizations and social enterprises and her role as an adjunct faculty member at UCLA - Ward-Wallaceis cultivating a future rooted in justice, healing and radical love.

Isaac Bryan
Public Service Award

By the time Isaac Bryan came to UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs as a master's student in public policy, he was already a committed advocate for racial equity, environmental and housing justice, and criminal justice reform. While in the program, he continued to hone his research and scholarship skills, and he would go on to important leadership roles with UCLA-based initiatives, serving as organizing director for Million Dollar Hoods, founding the Black Policy Project and becoming inaugural director of public policy at the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies.

In 2021, just three years after graduating from UCLA Luskin, Bryan was elected to the California Assembly, where he has continued to fight for policies and investments that benefit marginalized and underserved groups and communities - from neighborhoods affected by environmental degradation to foster families and formerly incarcerated students - and to help secure funding for important policy initiatives at UCLA and West Los Angeles College.

Joanna Doran
Professional Achievement Award

Doran, an attorney who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people with cancer, first became aware of the overwhelming legal challenges patients face when, as a UCLA undergraduate in political science, she worked at a local cancer research institute. The experience had a profound impact, and after graduating in 1998, she earned her law degree and began her trailblazing working in the field of cancer rights.

Today, her nonprofit Triage Cancer is the only nationwide organization that provides free legal and practical education and advice on the issues that impact many of those diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. Through her writing, advocacy and work as an adjunct law professor, Doran is ensuring that people with cancer - along with attorneys and law students - have access to the information and support they need to chart a path forward and focus on healing.

Ricardo Barboza
Community Service Award

Since graduating from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in 1995, Barboza has spent much of his professional life safeguarding the campus and the Bruin community. As UCLA's fire marshal for the past two decades, he has played a major role in shaping emergency preparedness and response strategies, most recently during the January wildfires. But he is also deeply committed to fostering connections and a culture of mutual respect through social events like his "Cold Brew & Conversation" program, where staff and students can learn about fire safety and campus safety resources over coffee.

And Barboza's commitment to service and generosity extends beyond his professional duties. Over the years, he has made more than 150 platelet donations to the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center, including one donation in 2014 that helped save a young mother's life.

Ron Yee
Volunteer of the Year

From his wardrobe to his vanity license plate, Yee's love for everything Bruin runs deep. And it's no wonder - the 1984 graduate in applied mathematics is married to another UCLA graduate and has three children who are alumni. For Yee, passion means service, and as a longtime volunteer leader in UCLA's Orange County Alumni Network and a member of the UCLA Parents' Council, he has helped generations of students, parents and alumni connect deeply and meaningfully to the campus and its mission.

Whether mentoring students, championing fundraising campaigns, or supporting the Wooden Athletic Fund and the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, Yee's spirited volunteerism continues to uplift the UCLA alumni, student and parent communities.

Scout Bassett
Young Alumnus of the Year

Bassett lost her leg in a fire as an infant and spent her early years in an orphanage in China, but her challenges never stopped her from achieving her goals. The 2011 UCLA graduate, who earned degrees in sociology and anthropology and served as a residential advisor on the Hill, set a track-and-field world record as a Paralympian in the 400m and U.S. records in the 100m and 200m. She chronicled her life experiences in her autobiography, "Lucky Girl: Lessons on Overcoming Odds and Building a Limitless Future."

Recognized in 2025 as one of USA Today's Women of the Year, Basset uses her platform to advocate for equal opportunities for young athletes with disabilities through her Scout Bassett Fund and helps women and girls reach their potential through sports as president of the Women's Sports Foundation. And with the athletes of the world coming to Los Angeles - and UCLA - in 2028, she is also serving as an athlete commission member for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Bruin Professionals
Network of the Year

With "Community, Camaraderie and Commerce" as its motto, Bruin Professionals has worked for more than two decades to build and foster a strong, supportive network of alumni business leaders and professionals where Bruins can thrive both professionally and socially.

Through monthly meetings and events, the network - now with 15 chapters across Southern California and an exchange forum of more than 8,000 subscribers - provides a trusted and welcoming space for members to make connections with their peers; share referrals, resources and advice; and hear from high-profile leaders in business and industry about the latest trends and developments. And as part of its commitment to investing in Bruin success, the network also offers scholarship opportunities to support the next generation of Bruin professionals and entrepreneurs.