The UO Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management and the PPPM Advisory Council recently announced the winners of three 2014 awards for public service.

William L. Sullivan, MA ’79, best known for his series of Oregon hiking guidebooks, was presented with the Outstanding Service to Oregon Award. Robert D. Atkinson, MS ’85, one of the country’s foremost thinkers on innovation economics, was honored as the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Marian Blankenship, MS ’06, the director of government relations for PacificSource, was recognized as the 2014 Distinguished Recent Alumna Award.

Sullivan is a writer, historian, civic leader and environmental advocate. His 17 books flow from his longstanding passion for Oregon’s natural beauty and history. He is president of the citizen group Lane Library League and serves on the board of directors for Oregon Wild (formerly Oregon National Resources Defense Council).

Atkinson is founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington, D.C. He has conducted groundbreaking research on technology and innovation, is an adviser to state and national policymakers and has written three books. He has testified before Congress and has appeared CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR and NBC Nightly News.

Blankenship is the director of government relations for PacificSource as well as the executive director of the PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement. As director of the statewide Safety Net Advisory Council, she helped produce the comprehensive report Oregon’s Healthcare Safety Net. She implemented a statewide grant program ensuring access to health care for underserved children and developed a program enabling more options for low-income working Oregonians.

The awards ceremony took place June 12 at the Ford Alumni Center Ballroom.

―By A&AA Communications