Sacramento State alumni were honored for the contributions to their communities and professional achievements at the Distinguished Service Award Dinner on Thursday.

The alumni community welcomed Michael Carter, John Gesek, Greg Knapp, Sia Nemat Nasser, Walter Schaub, Paulette Trainor, Mark Drobny and Pamela Stewart as their honorees of 2008.

A graduate in 1960, Sia Nemat Nasser was the first honoree of the ceremony. Professor Nasser is current director of the Center for Excellence for Advanced Materials and professor of Mechanics and Minerals at UC San Diego. Nasser has published over 400 articles and 20 books in civil engineering.

“There is no substitute for hard work and dedication,” Nasser said.

Nasser advised current students to have a broad view of the world, for he believes the world has become unified. An open mind to different perspectives and ideas will contribute to success in the future, Nasser said.

Roby Jaien, alumnus and graduate of 1961, attended the event solely to see Professor Nasser receive the award. Jaien flew from San Diego to celebrate with Nasser.

“Nasser is one of the smartest and the nicest people I have ever known as a student at Sac State,” Jaien said.

Michael Carter, who graduated in 1970, played professional football for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. Currently, Carter is the executive director of the Ecumenical Hunger Program, which serves working families with children and seniors in the areas of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.

“While working with children, I had a 12-year-old girl ask me how she can get pregnant,” Carter said.

Carter called his learning experience “surprising and alarming” while working in communities with low high school turnout rates in the areas of Walnut Creek and Fresno.

The ceremony concluded with President Alexander Gonzalez presenting the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service Award, which he gave to coach Bob Meadows for his outstanding contributions to the university.

Vanessa Guerrero can be reached at [email protected].