June 4, 1997 Contact Gaye Vandermyn (541) 346-3133 EUGENE--The University of Oregon faculty will honor a businessman, a social welfare advocate and a civic activist with Distinguished Service Awards at the 1997 UO commencement. The 1997 honorees are Atsushi "John" Kageyama, retired president of America Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Inc.; Bertha Holt, founder of Holt International Children's Services; and Katherine "Kappy" Eaton, a leader in various academic and community-based organizations. The Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors the University of Oregon faculty conveys, will be presented at the university's spring commencement ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Hayward Field, 1580 E. 15th Ave. The UO faculty select honorees for this award "who by their knowledge and skills have made a significant contribution to the cultural development of Oregon or society as a whole." "The three individuals lead lives that should serve as a model for all of us," university President Dave Frohnmayer said of the awardees. "John Kageyama is a modest man who has done some incredible things. He demonstrates admirable selflessness both on the job and in the community." "Selfless" was also the word that came to Frohnmayer's mind when describing Bertha Holt. "It amazes me that she had room in her heart and her own home for eight adopted children, and found homes for 50,000 others," he said, alluding to her advocacy for homeless children. "Voting is both a right and a responsibility, and Kappy Eaton's fine advocacy work reminds us of that fact," Frohnmayer said. "Her efforts have made for a more informed electorate and more humane society that benefits us all." Kageyama received his M.B.A. from the University of Oregon in 1958 and went on to a successful career with Matsushita Corp. He served with distinction in Europe, Latin America, North America and the Middle East. One of Kageyama's responsibilities was selecting the Vancouver, Wash., site for a major Matsushita assembly plant in the mid-1980s. The facility has provided steady employment for about 300 to 400 Northwest employees and added significantly to the region's economic development. Kageyama was appointed the first president of this division, America Kotobuki, and successfully served until his retirement in 1991. Community involvement is an integral part of Kageyama's life, and his committed list of local activities attests to this fact. During his tenure in the Northwest, Kageyama attracted outside interest in his company's activities and assisted the Economic Development Council in drawing support from other Japanese investments. He supported and developed the area's culture by helping arrange and sponsor both the Vancouver All Star Jazz Ensemble tour of Japan and the "Great Rivers of the West" celebration. Kageyama returned to the UO shortly after his retirement to share his knowledge of international business with students, and returned this spring to teach another seminar on cross-cultural issues in management. A book Kageyama is writing, addressing his experiences with people from divergent cultures, soon will be published in Japanese. He expects to finish it by the end of the year and will translate it into English. The UO community recognized Kageyama's achievements by appointing him a member of the UO Foundation's Board of Trustees. He contributed both time and personal pieces from his collection to the Museum of Art, and stewarded a $150,000 gift from Matsushita to renovate a high-tech lecture hall in the Chiles Business Center. Former President Robert Clark says Kageyama bridges the Japanese and American cultures "more admirably than any other Japanese national" whom he knows. Kageyama received the Fulbright Prize in 1992 for fostering mutual understanding between nations. He personally organized President Frohnmayer's recent visit to Tokyo, as well as many successful student exchange programs between the United States and Japan. Holt, a Creswell resident, has touched the lives of more than 200,000 children through services provided by her agency, Eugene-based Holt International Children's Services. The organization is the world's oldest intercountry adoption agency. Holt founded Holt International in 1956. Through adoption, medical and nutritional care, sponsorship, and family reunification services provided by her organization, she has directly found homes for nearly 50,000 children from all over the world. About 100,000 children she has assisted through adoption currently reside in the United States. Her efforts began after the Korean War, when Holt heard of the devastation suffered by Korean children. Despite already having six biological children of her own, Holt and her husband adopted eight of these Korean children. Such action demonstrates the joint vision of Holt and her company: "Every Child Deserves a Home of His Own." The 93-year-old Holt, referred to as "Grandma" by many, has worked in support of homeless children for more than 40 years. She maintains a rigorous schedule traveling around the world to advocate for child welfare. Currently, the agency serves 11 countries: China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Korea, the Philippines, Romania, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. Holt has earned 47 honors and accolades for her work from governments and organizations around the world. Among them are the American Mother of the Year, in 1966; the Moran Medal for Civil Merit, presented by the South Korean president in 1974; and the Presidential Award for Social Welfare, presented in the Philippines in 1981. She received the America's Award, honoring "unsung heroes who personify the American character and spirit," from the Positive Thinking Foundation in 1994. Holt also was the first foreigner to be presented with the Korea National Merit Award, in 1996. Over a span of 30 years, Holt has written four books detailing her experiences. She has been nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts. Eaton has contributed a lifetime of service to raising awareness about the issues that affect Oregon's citizens, then taking action to resolve these concerns. Last year Eaton helped found the Oregon Women's Rights Coalition and is now serving as president of the new coalition of organizations and individuals which lobbies for women's rights and issues. She has given many years of outstanding service to the League of Women Voters at both state and county levels. She is serving her second term as president of the Lane County League of Women Voters and has served on the board of directors and as president for the state league, and currently serves as the league's government, mental health and higher education chairs. On the local level, she has chaired two of the league's most important activities: voter service and action. The two master's degrees Eaton earned from the UO, one in journalism and one in librarianship, have granted her extensive work experience in each of these fields. She has worked as a reporter and an editor at California and Minnesota newspapers, respectively, and served as an editor for the Oregon State System of Higher Education. Eaton has edited many publications for the groups she is active in, including the League of Women Voters and the Oregon Division of the American Association of University Women. She has been published frequently in professional library journals. Eaton served for 15 years as the head of the Public Affairs Library at the UO and served as president of the National Council of Planning Librarians. Now an associate professor emerita, during her involvement at the university, she was active in many organizations, including the University Senate, the American Association of University Professors, various administrative committees and Sigma Kappa sorority. She was named Eugene Young Woman of the Year, Eugene Woman of the Year and Lane County Volunteer of the Year in 1956, 1974 and 1989, respectively, for her efforts. Eaton has served in leadership positions for numerous projects, including the International Federation of University Women and the American Association of University Women Legal Advocacy Fund, for which she was the founding president. She has received national awards from Camp Fire, Inc., for outstanding leadership and contributions to youth, and was the founding board chair of Passages, a residential treatment center for substance abuse. -30- #G-1060/Local/lp