Ann and Charles Quilter to receive Extraordinarius Award for enduring impact on UC Irvine

Irvine, Calif., Aug. 18, 2026 - For more than five decades, Ann and Charles Quilter have remained deeply engaged with UC Irvine, helping advance the university's mission through leadership, service and generosity. Their support has accelerated Alzheimer's research, strengthened the humanities, expanded opportunities for students and faculty, and advanced discoveries that improve lives far beyond Orange County.

In recognition of that extraordinary legacy, the UC Irvine Alumni Association and its board of directors have selected Ann Quilter, M.S. '79, and Charles Quilter, M.A. '06, Ph.D. '10 as recipients of the 2026 Extraordinarius Award - the association's highest honor recognizing alumni whose leadership, engagement and service have had a lasting impact on the university and society.

The award will be presented during the 55^th annual Lauds & Laurels celebration on Nov. 5 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

"Ann and Charles have strengthened UC Irvine through decades of leadership, engagement and generosity," said Brian T. Hervey, vice chancellor for university advancement and alumni relations and president of the UC Irvine Foundation. "They have championed the university's mission, inspired others through their example and created opportunities that will benefit generations to come."

A legacy of leadership and impact

The Quilters' story reflects a belief that universities create lasting public good by investing in people, ideas and discovery. Both also grew up in Marine Corps families imbued with a strong sense of service.

Charles Quilter served as a Marine aviator in combat in Vietnam, and later, as a colonel, in the liberation of Kuwait, followed by duty in Bosnia and Iraq. In civilian life, he flew Boeings as a captain for Delta Air Lines and helped his brother, Patrick Quilter, also a UC Irvine benefactor, establish his business.

After marrying in 1975, the Quilters made Laguna Beach their home. Ann Quilter quickly became one of the community's most active civic volunteers. She led the League of Women Voters, served as PTA president at both Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School, and helped lead humanitarian mission teams to Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Cuba and Biloxi, Mississippi, through the United Methodist Church of Laguna Beach.

Together, they have brought those same values to UC Irvine.

Supporting Alzheimer's disease research growth

Their transformational gift established Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall, the future home of the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, known as UCI MIND. Announced during the conclusion of UC Irvine's Brilliant Future campaign in 2025, the gift inspired more than $30 million in additional philanthropic commitments toward the state-of-the-art facility.

When completed, the building will accelerate research into Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, expand patient care and education, and strengthen UC Irvine's role as a global destination for research and treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

Their engagement with UC Irvine spans research, education, student success and university leadership.

Ann Quilter has served on the UCI MIND Leadership Council since 2020, helping guide the institute's strategic vision. Charles Quilter received the UC Irvine Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award in 2021 for his longstanding support of the School of Humanities.

Together, they recently established the Quilter Endowed Chair in the History of Technology, supporting scholarship that explores the profound ways technology shapes society.

Whether supporting scientific breakthroughs, preserving human understanding or expanding opportunities for students, the Quilters have consistently invested where they believe knowledge can create the greatest public impact.

"We've had the privilege of watching UC Irvine grow from a young campus into one of the world's leading public research universities," Ann Quilter said. "Remaining connected to that journey - and helping create opportunities for future generations - has been one of the greatest rewards of our lives."

Charles Quilter added, "Every day since returning home from Vietnam has felt like a gift. Ann and I have been fortunate in so many ways. Supporting UC Irvine is one way we can give something meaningful back - by investing in the people and discoveries that will improve lives long after we're gone."

Celebrating the Anteater community

Presented annually since 1971, Lauds & Laurels has recognized the people whose achievements have helped define UC Irvine's excellence. More than 900 alumni, faculty, staff and students have been honored for advancing education, research, innovation, public service and the university's mission.

This year's celebration also introduces the inaugural Anteater Alumni Spirit Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to Anteater pride, ambassadorship and advocacy.

The inaugural recipients are Patrick W. Glasgow '68, Robert G. Ernst '67 and Schuyler H. Bassett, whose vision and advocacy helped establish the anteater as UC Irvine's official mascot in 1965. The award will also be presented posthumously to honor the late Johnny Hart, creator of the iconic B.C. comic strip whose anteater character inspired Peter the Anteater and UC Irvine's use of the distinctive word, "Zot!"

In addition to the Quilters, the 2026 Lauds & Laurels celebration will honor distinguished alumni representing each of UC Irvine's schools:

• Sepideh Khouzani Moafi, M.F.A. '13 - Claire Trevor School of the Arts
• Aileen J. Anderson, Ph.D. '95 - Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
• Chris Insuk Song, MBA '11 - The Paul Merage School of Business
• Hang Virginia Nguyen '02, M.A.T. '03 - School of Education
• Leonard A. Ferrari, Ph.D. '80 - Samueli School of Engineering
• Natalie D. Richardson '92 - School of Humanities
• Melissa E. Patterson '03 - Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences
• Akhil Sheth, J.D. '13 - School of Law
• Cleveland Lewis Jr., M.D. '60 - School of Medicine
• Maureen Namrita Kotecki '08, '10 - Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
• Paul Huynh '93 - School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Jim Kohlenberger '85 - School of Physical Sciences
• Mark Alfred Malek '96 (posthumous) - Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
• Kimberly Goll, M.U.R.P. '00 - School of Social Ecology
• Jerry Braakman '95, EMBA '08 - School of Social Sciences

Additional universitywide honors will recognize:

• Daniel Klatt '01 - Outstanding Alumni Athlete
• Casey Vanderlip, M.S. '25 - Outstanding Graduate Student
• Mina Shin - Outstanding Undergraduate Student
• Jennifer Aaron '97, MBA '05 - Outstanding Staff Achievement

Returning with a refreshed format, the 2026 celebration will feature a theater-style awards program at the Irvine Barclay Theatre followed by a reception bringing together alumni, university leaders and community partners.

For Ann and Charles Quilter, however, the evening represents more than recognition. It celebrates a relationship with UC Irvine that has spanned more than half a century - marked by leadership, service and an enduring commitment to the university's mission.

At a Glance

Who: Ann Quilter, M.S. '79, and Charles Quilter, M.A. '06, Ph.D. '10

What: The UC Irvine Alumni Association will present the Quilters with the 2026 Extraordinarius Award, its highest alumni honor, recognizing their lifelong investment in Alzheimer's research, the humanities, student success and the future of UC Irvine.

When: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026

Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine

Media contact: Robby Ray, senior director of marketing and special events ([email protected])

More information: Lauds & Laurels event page: https://engage.alumni.uci.edu/lauds-laurels/

For sponsorship opportunities: Julia Curran, director of UCIAA business development
([email protected])

About the UC Irvine Alumni Association: In 1968, the UC Irvine Alumni Association was founded to enrich the lives of alumni and engage them in the lifelong advancement of UC Irvine. It fosters the success of the university's more than 274,000 alumni by connecting them and providing a wide range of campus resources. With UC Irvine's ambition of being a globally preeminent university, the UC Irvine Alumni Association strives to empower and support its alumni community through its chapters, career development efforts, social gatherings, membership program and alumni engagement events. For more information, visit the UCIAA website.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.