Established in 1982 the Harvey G. Foster Award is conferred on an alumnus/alumna (living or deceased), some of whom are athletes or in athletic endeavors, who have distinguished themselves through civic or University activities. 

Past Recipients

The 2009 Foster Award winner is:

Ronald W. Zamber, M.D. ’83 

With this award, Ronald W. Zamber, M.D. ’83, is honored for his distinguished involvement in civic and University initiatives—especially those involving children. In 2001, Zamber and his wife, Suzan, co-founded International Vision Quest (IVQ), a non-profit organization that provides free eye care to men, women, and children in developing countries, and provides financial resources to entities that care for children living in poverty.

Zamber, who received his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine, completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Washington and became board certified in 1992.

Prior to founding IVQ, Zamber and his wife funded, organized, and participated in medical and surgical mission trips to Ecuador, Nepal, Malawi, and Costa Rica. During these trips, Zamber performed free sight-restoring surgeries and sight-preserving medical care on thousands of impoverished adults and children. These experiences inspired the founding of IVQ.

Not only does IVQ provide free eye care, but it also helped fund the Rotary Netra Rural Eye Hospital in Vizag, India; supported the construction of classroom and kitchen facilities at the Malawi Children’s Village in Malawi, Africa; and has provided donations for more than 100,000 meals for destitute children through the Feed My Starving Children Organization. In addition, IVQ has contributed funds to the O’Hana Heritage Foundation to aid construction of a respite home for medically fragile children in South Bend, Ind.

Zamber has served as secretariat for State Affairs for the northwestern United States and as associate examiner for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Also, he has served on the board of directors for Life Alaska and has been a consistent sponsor of Research to Prevent Blindness. Zamber was voted a member of the “Best Doctors in America” for 2009-2010, and was featured in Ophthalmology Management Magazine for his humanitarian work.

 

Past Recipients

2008—Bryant Young ’94

2007—Aaron Taylor ’94

2006—Jerry Groom ’51 and Jack Connor ’50

2005—Michael P. McCoy ’70

2004—Stephen L. Pavela Jr. ’48

2003—Robert M. Bennett ’62

2002—Martin J. Allen Jr. ’58

2001—James Flanigan ’94

2000—William "Zeke" O'Connor ’49

1999—Richard H. Soisson ’50

1998—Nicholas A. Buoniconti ’62

1997—Laphonso D. Ellis ’92

1996—Christopher Zorich ’91

1995—Gene Paszkiet ’50

1994—James R. Lynch ’67

1993—Joseph H. Ruetz ’38

1992—Dr. William C. Hurd ’69

1991—Robert J. McBride ’44

1990—Dennis J. Stark ’47

1989—George L. Kelly ’53

1988—William A. Hanzlick ’80

1987—John J. Elder ’30

1986—Dr. Robert J. Scannell ’57

1985—James A. Mello ’48

1984—Ray Meyer ’58

1983—Richard A. Rosenthal ’54

1982—Rev. John Smyth ’57