On Oct. 29, James Valentine, professor of integrative biology, received the Paleontological Society Medal. This prestigious award was given at the Paleontological Society's annual luncheon, held this year in Denver.

As stated in the society's by-laws, "... the recipient should be a person whose eminence is based on advancement of knowledge in paleontology. It is recognized that this medal may be awarded only intermittently."

Though modest and soft-spoken, Valentine has given much to the science of paleontology. He was an early architect of the field of evolutionary paleobiology, in which fossil evidence is used to determine evolutionary relationships blending paleontology and biology. His work focuses on paleoecology and macroevolution, using molecular data to clarify the environmental and biological setting of evolution.

Valentine is a past president of the Paleontological Society, was active in the foundation of the Journal of Paleobiology and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

He received his PhD in geology, with a specialization in paleontology, from UCLA in1955. He has been a professor at Berkeley since 1964 and is currently a professor emeritus and faculty curator of the Museum of Paleontology.

In keeping with his character, his acceptance speech was dedicated to his graduate students.

"I have learned more from my graduate students in the past decades than anyone else. They just keep coming -- and bringing new ideas with them."

To recognize her many and continuing contributions to young scholars, the North American Society for Sport History has named its newly created Graduate Student Endowment Fund for Roberta J. Park, professor of human biodynamics.

Park is author, co-author and editor of numerous books, articles and monographs on athletics, exercise and sports in cultural and historical context. She has garnered numerous awards and honors for her distinguished scholarship and teaching, among them the distinguished scholar award in 1994 from the National Association for Physical Education in Higher Education and the keynote lectureship at the 1995 V Paulista Physical Education Symposium in Brazil.

The Mail Systems Management Association recently recognized William B. McCart, director of mail services, as a certified mail and distribution systems manager.

McCart joins the ranks of over 175 individuals nationally who have completed the requirements for the award. The certification process involves evaluation by a peer as well as written examination covering all aspects of technical expertise, mail and distribution systems and financial and general management skills. Accredited professionals also agree to a 10-point professional code of ethics.

J. David Rogers, lecturer in civil and environmental engineering, was honored with the 1996 R. H. Jahns Distinguished Lectureship Award of the Association of Engineering Geologists and the Geological Society of America. The joint society award is given annually to an engineering geologist who "fosters understanding of engineering geology among geology and civil engineering students."

Sheldon Rothblatt, professor of history, was recently elected to membership in the National Academy of Education. Membership in the academy is limited to 125 persons whose accomplishments in the field of education are judged outstanding.

Nancy Scheper-Hughes, professor and chair of anthropology, delivered the fifth annual Sidney W. Mintz Lecture in Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University Oct. 28.

In honor of Sidney Mintz, Scheper-Hughes revised and revisited Aries' classic book "Centuries of Childhood," reflecting on the images and representations of "post-modern childhood" at the end of the century. The lecture, entitled "Small War: The Cultural Politics of Childhood," will be published soon in the international journal Current Anthropology.

Bud Travers, assistant to Vice Chancellor Horace Mitchell, focusing on resource development, was recently presented a pin and certificate to honor his 30 years of service to the university.

Travers began his UC Berkeley career as senior budget analyst in the chancellor's office. He has since managed myriad programs including student affairs, financial aid, student services, undergraduate affairs, business and administrative services, administration and, most recently, financial and plant services.

During his tenure Travers has also been very involved in the campus community. He has participated in numerous committees addressing intercollegiate athletics, the status of staff women, campus systems development, system-wide electronic data interchange, affirmative action and admissions.

An avid tennis player, Travers serves as president of the Northern California Tennis Association and regularly competes in tennis tournaments. He graduated from Sacramento State College in 1964 with a BA in economics and Berkeley in 1970 with an MA in public affairs.

Robert Wilensky, professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences, has been elected a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery.

Wilensky, who joined the faculty in 1978, is vice chair for administration in his department. His research interests include artificial intelligence, knowledge representation, and natural language processing.