2007 Guardian Awards

The Alumni Guardian Awards dinner honors and celebrates SPPD alumni and supporters who have shown dedication and leadership toward the betterment of their communities and the world around them. Proceeds from the Guardian Awards go directly to the SPPD Annual Fund – which supports scholarships, classroom materials, and other learning opportunities for SPPD students.

Held on October 9, 2007, the second annual awards dinner honored USC alumni Christopher Van Gorder MPA ’86 (with a focus on health administration); Kim Bum-il MPA ’84; and Rick Caruso BS ’80.

Honorees

Chris D. Van Gorder, FACHE
Master of Public Administration 1986
President and Chief Executive Officer, Scripps Health

Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health (San Diego, CA), graduated from USC with a Master of Public Administration focusing on health administration in 1986. Since that time, Van Gorder has been a vital supporter of SPPD’s Master of Health Administration degree program as a Health Advisory Board member as well as a clinical professor. He will receive the Guardian Award for Alumni Service for his exemplary career in the field of healthcare and his commitment to the community. Learn more about Chris Van Gorder.

The Honorable Kim Bum-il
Master of Public Administration, 1984
Mayor of Daegu, Republic of Korea

Kim Bum-il received a Master of Public Administration degree in 1984. Bum-il currently serves as the 31st mayor of Daegu, the third largest city in Korea. He was the fourth mayor to be elected by the citizens of Daegu, and previously, he served his nation as the Minister of General Services. He will receive the Guardian Award for Alumni Merit for his distinguished career in government and the public sector. Learn more about Kim Bum-il.

Rick J. Caruso
Bachelor of Science, 1980
Founder and CEO, Caruso Affiliated

Rick Caruso, founder and CEO of Caruso Affiliated (Los Angeles, CA), received his Bachelor of Science degree from the USC Marshall School of Business in 1980. Caruso has been a member of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development’s Board of Councilors since 1989, and he was recently appointed to the USC Board of Trustees. In addition, he was instrumental in helping to raise funds to endow the Margaret and John Ferraro Chair in Effective Local Government within SPPD, and in 2006, he helped fund the new USC Catholic Community Center. He will receive the Guardian Award for Vision and Leadership for his outstanding contributions to the school, the university, and the community. Learn more about Rick Caruso.