2017 Moral Compass Awards
Ethics Center Honors 4 Recipients
The Ethics Center honors the four most recent recipients of its Moral Compass Awards, presented at the organization’s 30th Anniversary celebration dinner on April 19. The award recognizes individuals who have done the most to make the Center’s work possible. The 30th anniversary award winners are:
CRAIG NEWMARK
Craig Newmark was the founding funder of the Center’s Trust Project, which crafts tangible digital strategies to fulfill journalism’s basic pledge: to serve society with a truthful, intelligent and comprehensive account of ideas and events. Newmark understood the vision for the project right away and became a key advocate. He has offered thoughtful guidance and projected a clear voice advocating for trustworthy journalism across the Internet. He has played a vital role in connecting the Project to important people, organizations and ideas from his extensive network.
RICHARD GINGRAS AND GOOGLE NEWS
Richard Gingras was one of the original participants in the network of digital journalism editors convened by the Center’s Journalism Ethics Program. In the dialogue at these gatherings, the problem of declining trust in news was identified and led to the Trust Project. Gingras, in his role as vice president of news at Google, has connected the Trust Project to key initiatives and people there, such an important company in the distribution of news. He has evangelized for the Trust Project in the United States and internationally.
DICK LEVY
Over five years ago, Dick Levy, a former CEO and leading Silicon Valley board member, agreed to join the Ethics Center’s Advisory Board. At that point, Advisory Board Chair Mike Hackworth was taken ill and told us that the very best person to take over would be Levy, even though he had just joined the group. Not only did Levy step up to the responsibility, but he has become probably our most active chair since Mike Markkula – and he is not done yet!
KRISTI BOWERS
The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics started as an idea when Mike and Linda Markkula came to SCU with their freshman daughter Kristi, and learned of the opportunity to partner with the University to create an Ethics Center. The Markkulas not only helped launch the Center but remained actively involved in its development and strategic direction. Shortly after Mike Markkula moved from his role as Advisory Board chair to chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, daughter Kristi Markkula Bowers joined the Advisory Board. She continues her family’s very active engagement with the direction of the Center as Chair of our Strategic Resource Development Committee, and a driving force in shaping the future of the Center.
Congratulations to the winners! An infographic highlighting the Center’s accomplishments was created in honor of the 30th Anniversary milestone, you can view it here.