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R ecently, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) bestowed its highest honor on UConn professor, scientist, engineer, and surgeon Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, recognizing a lifetime of achievement and advancements in his fields. Laurencin joins an esteemed list of Americans as the winner of the prestigious Spingarn Medal. It is the highest honor of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The Medal honors "the man or woman of African descent and American citizenship who shall have made the highest achievement during the preceding year or years in any honorable field." Past winners include Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson, Duke Ellington, Charles Drew, and others. "This list of those who have won the Spingarn medal is incredible. I am honored to be in such awesome company," says Laurencin, who is the first engineer, fourth physician, and the fifth scientist to receive the award. Laurencin's contributions to UConn and his fields are numerous. Laurencin's seminal and singular accomplishments in tissue regeneration, biomaterials science, and nanotechnology, and regenerative engineering, a field he founded, have made him the foremost engineer-physician- scientist in the world. His breakthrough achievements have resulted in transformative advances in improving human life. His fundamental contributions to materials science and engineering include the introduction of nanotechnology into the biomaterials field for regeneration. He is the first surgeon in history to be elected to all four national academies: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors. In technology and inventorship, Laurencin is a laureate of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America's highest honor for technological achievement, awarded by President Barack Obama at the White House. "I can think of no one more inspiring in the field of science, technology, and medicine than Dr. Cato Laurencin. I call him a global scientist because his work is in every corner of this planet and his students are citizens of the world and he is a citizen of the world," says UConn Interim President Radenka Maric. UConn honored Laurencin at a Jan. 28 reception, bringing together University and NAACP leadership to celebrate his work and legacy. "It's important to celebrate Dr. Laurencin and this important award as we move into Black History month," says Carl Lejuez, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. "We have a chance to celebrate him as he receives an award so meaningful." Visit www.today.uconn.edu to read more about Laurencin's medal and contributions to Connecticut. You can also view the Jan. 28 ceremony, including an NAACP feature about Laurencin. S P I N G A R N M E D A L R E C I P I E N T UConn's Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Wins NAACP's Highest Honor research.uconn.edu U C O N N R E S E A R C H A strong partner in Connecticut's future. UConn interim President Radenka Maric presents Dr. Cato T. Laurencin with a certificate recognizing his NAACP Spingarn Medal.