Dharamsala: Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has been honoured with the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance, his office said on Thursday.
He is the 15th recipient of the award, founded by Merced native Sherrie Spendlove in 2005 at University of California, Merced.
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“In naming the Dalai Lama the latest recipient of the Spendlove Prize, UC Merced recognises a global spiritual leader committed to expressing the importance of happiness, compassion, warm-heartedness, self-discipline, friendship and human solidarity amongst our diversity,” said Professor Nigel Hatton, with the Department of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.
“This has been the Dalai Lama’s goal across several decades of leadership, countless speeches and teachings to communities across the world, and now, a great trove of inspirational and informative social media posts,” said Hatton. “His Holiness embodies not only the importance of spiritual life, but also the examined mind. As he recently noted, ‘since human beings have a natural ability to think things through, education is a key factor in creating a better future.’
“His sustained commitment to these and other important human values led the Spendlove Prize Selection Committee to name His Holiness the 15th recipient of the prize, uniting him with his friend, former President Jimmy Carter, as distinguished Spendlove laureates.”
The Spendlove Prize Selection Committee is chaired by School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Dean Jeffrey Gilger, Sherrie Spendlove as a representative from the Spendlove family, Hatton as a faculty member, and Lee Anderson and Charlie Bennett as community representatives. Every year, an individual or an inspirational figure is honoured with the Spendlove award for serving as an active role model for students, faculty and the community surrounding UC Merced. The prize has an annual value of $15,000.
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Those interested in attending the pre-recorded presentation must register online prior to the event.
