Our Vibrant Home Glows: The Return of the I-House Gala

Yesterday was incredible and will go down in the International House history books for many years to come. Current residents, alumni from all over the world, staff members, and friends from Berkeley and the surrounding areas came together for the International House Berkeley Gala.

The lovely evening began with stand-up networking, mingling between attendees, and a purple-carpet photo shoot. Sharing life stories and experiences with people from all generations and cultures while residing at the International House was a lovely experience.

A current resident of the I-House from France named Raphaël Levisse began to play the piano, guiding everyone into the room as they got settled in and enjoyed dinner. Shaun Carver, our Executive Director, welcomed everyone and announced the theme for the evening, “Our Vibrant Home,” at precisely 7 p.m. He restated that the theme represented the diverse range of beliefs, aspirations, cultures, and viewpoints that came together to create this lovely house. He talked about the goals and objectives of I-House and how the three pillars of our community are respect, empathy, and peace.

It was a privilege for Shaun Carver and Bukola Mabadeje (a current IH board member) to announce the award recipients. The event was intended to celebrate members of our worldwide community who, in their personal and professional lives, advocate a world of greater justice and peace.

The inaugural honor, the Executive Director’s Outstanding Community Leadership Award, went to Okechukwu (Oke) Iroegbu (IH 2022–24), a current resident.

Oke received the award in recognition of his commitment to I-House’s goal and the beneficial effects of his leadership on the resident community. Since arriving at UC Berkeley in the fall of 2022 as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar to pursue a master’s degree in folklore, Oke has been actively involved in I-House events. As a Global Community Ambassador and a member of the Resident Council, he has volunteered his services to I-House and his fellow residents. Additionally, he started the “Folklore Club” at I-House and promotes cross-cultural interaction by having story-sharing gatherings for I-House residents. 

Oke greeted the audience in Igbo language as he accepted the award, then talked about his journey and his dream of having an International House at every university in the world that accepts students from other countries.

Ronald E. Silva (IH Board Member, 2015-present) received the second honor, the 2024 Sherry & Betsey Warrick Mission Service honor, in recognition of his commitment to preserving and enhancing I-House.

Since joining the International House Board of Directors in 2015, Ron—as he is affectionately known—has devoted many hours, knowledge, and financial resources to maintaining and enhancing the historic I-House structure. Throughout the remodeling of the structure, Ron’s professionalism, inventiveness, and commitment to the I-House’s architectural legacy are evident in a number of areas, such as the recently remodeled front of the house, the Heller Patio, the Gamble Lounge/Sproul Kitchen, and Edmonds’ Café.

He is the President, CEO, and Founding Principal of Fillmore Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based private investment company. In addition, he serves on the advisory board of the UCB College of Chemistry. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.S. and the John F. Kennedy School of Law with honors.

Upon receiving his award, Ron reaffirmed the sense of fulfillment that comes from giving to others and a cause without anticipating anything in return, and he urged others to follow suit.

The 2024 Alumna of the Year Award went to Chiara Medioli-Fedrigoni (IH-1993-94) as the third recipient of the night.

Chiara received recognition for her support of global and European university campuses, museums, archives, and libraries that support cultural heritage preservation initiatives. She is the chair of the Fondazione Fedrigoni Fabriano in Italy, which has a collection of historical papermaking artifacts (tools, records, samples of paper, watermarks) dating back to 1264 and used by master papermakers, artists, and historians today. Since 1999, she has worked in management, product development, and sustainability roles in the printing and papermaking industries at Fedrigoni and Bertelsmann.

She is the curator of the Festival del Disegno, which strives to assist individuals of all ages in regaining confidence in the straightforward yet powerful act of drawing, as well as Pulp, a magazine on paper stories for graphic designers. Chiara is also involved in environmental and energy transition projects. She received a one-year scholarship to UC Berkeley after earning an MA in economics from the University of Venice. She also possesses an M.B.A. from the INSEAD Business School in Fontainebleau, France.

Chiara encouraged the audience to put value creation first since money will always follow, as she talked about her experience taking over the family firm, what motivates her work, where she started, and how it is progressing.

Chenming Hu (IH 1969–71) won the 2024 Global Impact Award, the evening’s final prize, for his achievements in the semiconductor industry, which have revolutionized computing and communications across the globe. Chenming Hu, the TSMC Distinguished Professor Emeritus of UC Berkeley, taught electrical engineering for 40 years and invented the 3D transistor that powers modern smartphones, 5G, and AI chips. He attended the event with his wife Margaret Leung, whom he met at I-House in 1970 and married in 1972. He was awarded the Taiwan Presidential Science Prize in 2023 and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Obama in 2016 for his contributions to the advancement of semiconductor technology and industry.

The Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award, UC Berkeley’s highest teaching distinction, has been given to him. In addition, he held the position of CTO at TSMC, taught at MIT, wrote over 1,000 scientific publications, five books, and 150 US patents.

To put it in his own words, “I have gained immense satisfaction from contributing to the global community and have developed a spirit of globalism and altruism living in I-House during my graduate studies and working in Berkeley.” He credited globalism, altruism, and luck for his life’s success. He also recalled the day he met his wife at the I-House entryway: he had been living at International House for a year when she arrived from Hong Kong with so much luggage that she had to pull up the steps. He volunteered to assist her and struck up a conversation with her on the bench in front of the I-House; the rest is history, as they say.

The cuisine prepared by the award-winning Executive Chef Abigail Serbins and her team was truly delicious.

Gala guests were treated to a show of brilliant International House residents, including Marie Kushimodo, who performed on the keyboard; Seo Young Choi, Francisca Lee, and Neo Yin, who performed hip-hop, locking, and waacking dances. We also really loved the incredible performance of Ed Sheeren’s “Photograph” by Robin Dumas.

I believe the audience will never forget the stunning short film that Global Community Ambassador Lucy Zhu made, which featured the theme “Our Vibrant Home.” You can watch it here.

A candlelight ceremony marked the conclusion of the first Gala since 2019 post-pandemic and served as a symbol of our expanding I-House community striving for world peace. The Executive Director lit a candle during this ceremony and passed it to light the candles of the four honorees. Subsequently, the recipients continued to pass it on until each person’s candle was lit throughout the entire Chevron auditorium. In unison, we lifted our lit candles.

After Shaun’s final words, there were laughs, connections, and pictures.

We would like to express our gratitude to our generous sponsors: Fillmore, Chevron, Buchalter, PLANT, Sysco, Freeman Vineyard & Winery, Furthermore Wines, Land of Promise, and Peerless Coffee & Tea.