Alumnus Darius Assemi, president of Granville Homes, will be honored at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala on Oct. 18at the Save Mart Center.
The Fresno entrepreneur and philanthropist will receive theFresno State Alumni Association’s Top Dog Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2013. He will be recognized along with 14 other people at the event.
The annual event will honor alumni chosen from each of the university’s academic schools and colleges, the department of athletics, the Henry Madden Library, the division of student affairs and the division of graduate studies.
“This year, we’ve made some changes to add new dimensions to the event,” said events coordinator Ashleigh Davis. “We will highlight performances by the Fresno State Opera Theatre and other student musicians.”
Assemi came to the United States from Iran more than 30 years ago and graduated cum laude in 1983 with a degree in civil engineering. He has served as president of Granville Homes since 2009.
He is the chairperson of American Medical Overseas Relief, a Fresno nonprofit created by the Assemi family and other business leaders to help improve the health of mothers and children in Afghanistan.
The nonprofit funded the creation of Afshar Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2009.
Assemi is also considered a supporter of Downtown revitalization in Fresno. Granville Homes has built four multifamily projects in the Cultural Arts District in Fresno, which have brought in about 500 residents.
Two alumni will be awarded the Arthur Safstrom Service Award for service to the university and community.
Omel Nieves, 1983, senior shareholder, chief operations officer and partner of the Pasadena-based law firm Hunt, Ortmann, Palffy, Nieves, Darling & Mah, Inc.,
and Dennis R. Woods, 1969, who co-chaired Fresno State’s seven-year fundraising campaign that raised $214 million for scholarships, faculty, programs and facilities, will receive the award.
Students will also receive awards at the event.
The Alumni Association will distribute $125,000 in scholarships to 54 students based on academic achievement, financial need and community service.
The Top Dogs will be honored during Fresno State’s Homecoming gameOct. 19against UNLV at Bulldog Stadium.
The 2013 Top Dog Alumni Award recipients are:
- Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology: Enrique E. Figueroa (1973), chief executive and administrative officer of the Roberto Hernandez Center at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
- College of Arts and Humanities: Anthony Marquez (1985), chief of bureau for Associated Press, Los Angeles.
- Department of Athletics: Kevin Sweeney (1987), former Bulldogs quarterback and National Football League player and current senior vice president at Wells Fargo Bank.
- Craig School of Business: Tim Rios (1993), senior vice president, Social Responsibility Group, Wells Fargo Bank.
- Kremen School of Education and Human Development: Ruben V. Castillo (1994), administrator for the Migrant Education Program, Region IV, Fresno County Office of Education.
- Lyles College of Engineering: Kirk D. Grimes (1980), group president, Fluor Corp.
- Division of Graduate Studies: Carole Goldsmith (1991, 2005), president of West Hills College Coalinga.
- College of Health and Human Services: Nancy Hollingsworth (1982), president and CEO of Saint Agnes Hospital.
- Henry Madden Library: Saundra ‘Sandy’ Speers Stubblefield (alumna), volunteer and friend of Fresno State.
- College of Science and Mathematics: Ken Schmidt (1964), principal of Ken Schmidt & Associates.
- College of Social Sciences: Henry R. Perea (1974), Fresno County Board of Supervisors chairman, District 3.
- Division of Student Affairs: Carissa Phelps (2002), author, social entrepreneur and youth advocate.