Mineta Transportation Institute grants awards at annual banquet

The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) recently granted several prestigious honors at its yearly awards banquet, convocation and celebration.

The banquet doubled as a fundraiser for Master of Science in Transportation Management (MSTM) fellowships. The event raised a record-breaking $108,000 for the students next year. Financial support was donated by many patrons and benefactors from transportation agencies, private businesses, and professional organizations.

The honors included the MSTM Award for Alumna of the Year, the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Award for middle-school students, a San Jose Mayor’s Commendation, two promotions to emeritus status within the MTI Board of Trustees, the Congressman James Oberstar Award for Academic Excellence and a newly elected board chair and vice-chair. In addition, 21 graduate students received their hoods for their master’s degrees in transportation management.

Norman Mineta, retired U.S. Secretary of Transportation and founder of MTI, gave the commencement address. James Beall, the chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, also gave a speech about the importance of transportation and infrastructure. Rep. Mike Honda, Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose, Ted Link-Oberstar of policy consulting and City Councilman Ash Kalra of San Jose also gave speeches.

Transportation leaders from throughout the U.S. attended the 23rd annual event, hosted by San Jose State University on June 27, 2015.