Biotechnology Education Group Announces Awards; Chiron Founder Will Speak at "Celebration of Science Education" Dinner.

BERKELEY, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 8, 1998--The vice mayor of Berkeley, a U.S. Department of Education official, a member of the Oakland School Board, the Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, and a corporate leader in the field of biotechnology will all receive awards at the "Second Celebration of Science Education" dinner on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

The honorees represent the unique and diverse partnership so essential to the success of Berkeley Biotechnology Education, Inc. (BBEI), a nonprofit organization now celebrating five years of hands-on training and science education for young people in Berkeley and Oakland.

At the dinner, which is a fund raiser for BBEI, students from the organization's partner schools -- Berkeley High, Fremont High/Oakland, and Laney College -- will present awards to: -0-

--   Chiron Corporation, a leading biotechnology firm located in the
     East Bay. Dr. Edward Penhoet, new dean of the School of Public
     Health at UC Berkeley, and one of the co-founders of the company,
     will accept the award for Chiron

--   Loni Hancock, Regional Representative of the U.S. Department of
     Education and former mayor of Berkeley

--   Albert Harrison II, chancellor of the Peralta Community College
     District

--   Maudelle Shirek, vice mayor of the city of Berkeley, seven-term
     council member

--   Noel Gallo, two-term member of the Oakland Unified School
     District Board of Education

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BBEI, founded in 1993 with start-up funds from Bayer Biotechnology, has designed and implemented a comprehensive high school and community college program, enabling students in participating schools to gain valuable work experience and to be exposed to special science classes that prepare them for both higher education and for the high-paying, technical jobs created as biotechnology-derived products (many of which are currently in research and development) become licensed and ready for full-scale production.

"Industry leaders have predicted a growing need for skilled technicians who are appropriately trained for these positions," explained Mary Alice Rathbun, executive director of the organization.

Rathbun continued, "We are excited to be able to honor a prominent group of individuals who represent the industry, education, and the community." Guests at the dinner will include leaders of the biotech industry, city and school officials, students and parents. Corporate contributors include Bayer, Pfizer, Berlex, Chiron, LBNL, McKesson and others. BBEI is hoping to raise more than $60,000 for its programs through the dinner.

BBEI was honored recently as the "Pioneer Health Career Training Program" by Johnson & Johnson, at the Jobs for the Future Conference in Orlando, Fla., where the company spokesperson hailed BBEI as a model for education and industry partnerships.

BBEI receives funding from foundations, businesses and individuals. Its comprehensive program includes a specialized science curriculum for 11th and 12th graders and a science certificate at the community college level. It also includes laboratory-focused work experience for all participants, teacher training, job counseling preparation, and an unusually comprehensive range of support service for participating students.

"BBEI is unique in that it has worked in partnership to understand the coming needs and trends of the industry. It has shown that it can coordinate the efforts of both the schools and biotech companies... no easy task, given the inherent differences between the two entities," said Dr. Penhoet. "This is a rapidly changing industry, full of opportunities, and we need programs that encourage young people to consider careers in science."

Since 1993, BBEI has expanded from one school to three and from one industry partner to 35. Most significantly, more than 120 students are currently enrolled in the BBEI-sponsored school and industry-based programs, and to date, 100% of program graduates have been successfully employed in the industry, at high paid jobs. More than 50% of these graduates are continuing their education, while employed.

"BBEI turned me onto science," explained Damian Kirkland, a 1997 program graduate who is currently employed at Genentech Corp., and will be the emcee for the Oct. 8 program. Kirkland is a 1996 graduate of Berkeley High School. "I learned so much through the BBEI courses and through my internship and co-op job experiences, that I felt very qualified for my position at Genentech."

Kirkland's supervisors agree. They call his performance on the job "awesome!"

The BBEI "Celebration of Science" dinner begins with a no-host bar at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8. Dinner and program begin at 7 p.m. The Lakeview Club is located at 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. For additional information and to confirm attendance, contact Fern Tiger at 510/763-3867. -0-

                         KEY FACTS ABOUT BBEI

--   BBEI (Berkeley Biotechnology Education Inc.) is a nonprofit
     organization that established a comprehensive education and
     training program to provide young people with the skills
     necessary to obtain employment in the emerging field of
     biotechnology production and related health care industries.

--   BBEI's program includes a two-year high school science component
     emphasizing bioscience and chemistry in the 11th and 12th grades;
     a paid internship in a biotechnology/health care company or
     institution during the summer between these grades; a college
     program at Laney College, called the Bioscience Career Institute,
     that is coordinated with a year-long paid co-op job in industry
     -- all leading to well-paid skilled technical jobs in industry.
     BBEI also facilitates teacher training, curriculum development,
     support services for students, and job placement, upon completion
     of the program.

--   Currently there are about 120 students enrolled in the program
     for fall '98 (including students at Berkeley High, Fremont High
     in Oakland, and Laney College.)

--   During summer 1998 there are 68 BBEI high school students
     employed in summer internships and 23 Laney students employed in
     year-round jobs located at 35 companies and health care
     institutions in the Bay Area.

--   There are more than 300 biotech companies located in the greater
     Bay Area and there is an anticipated job growth predicted as more
     products become licensed by FDA. Starting salaries for students
     emerging from BBEI's full program range from $15/hr. to $17/hr.,
     with good benefits and opportunities to continue schooling.

--   BBEI has a 100% job placement rate for students completing the
     program.

--   In 1998, BBEI was named "Pioneer in Health Care Training" by
     Johnson & Johnson Co., at the national Jobs for the Future
     conference.

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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION -- 1998 BBEI HONOREES

Chiron Corporation is a global healthcare company, known as a pioneer in the research and development of biopharmaceutical and diagnostic products. Chiron created the first genetically engineered human vaccine for Hepatitis B, discovered the Hepatitis C genome, and cloned and sequenced the entire HIV genome.

With more than 6,500 employees located on four continents, and revenues of $1.2 billion in 1997, Chiron is known as a leader and innovator in biotechnology. Chiron has a a global partnership with Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, which owns approximately 49.9 percent of the company.

Dr. Penhoet, who along with Drs. William Rutter and Pablo Valenzuela, founded Chiron in 1981, will accept the 1998 BBEI Industry Leadership Award for Chiron Corp.'s commitment to science education and science learning in the public schools. Until recently, Dr. Penhoet served as chief executive officer of the company.

Born, raised, and still a resident of Oakland, Calif., Dr. Penhoet was appointed dean of the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley this past July. He continues to serve as a member of the board of directors of Chiron and as a special adviser to the company, principally in areas of government and industry relations, and commercial collaborations.

Dr. Penhoet chairs the California Health Care Institute, is a trustee of the Oakland Museum Foundation, a member of the National Research Council, and a member of the boards of directors of the California Business Higher Education Forum; BIO, the Bay Area BioScience Center; the Bay Are Council; California Public Health Foundation; Chabot Observatory and Science Center Foundation; UC System Biotech Advisory Committee; Onyx Pharmaceuticals; and the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UC Berkeley.

Dr. Penhoet is a member of the American Society of Biological Chemists, and has published more than 50 scientific articles and papers.

Chiron Corp. has been an important and committed partner to BBEI, as the nonprofit developed appropriate curriculum, piloted internship programs, and reached out to schools and industry. In conjunction with Chiron's agreement with the city of Emeryville, the company will provide $200,000 to assist BBEI's development in the years to come.

Loni Hancock: A former Mayor of the city of Berkeley, Hancock is the representative of the U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, in Federal Region IX, which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii and Nevada. In this position, she is responsible for building links between schools and communities and for advocating for initiatives that improve education.

Projects include 34 federally funded School-to-Work Partnership Grants with the Department of Labor; "America Reads Challenge;" and an eleven-county public private consortium in the Bay Area, established to create safe places for young people during non-school hours.

As Mayor of Berkeley (1987-1994), Hancock presided over the Council during the 1991 negotiations that led to the approval of the precedent-setting Development Agreement between Bayer Corp. and the city of Berkeley, which included the funding to establish Berkeley Biotechnology Education Inc. (BBEI).

Hancock led several partnerships between the schools and the city including the Berkeley High School Health Center and the East Bay Public Safely Corridor Project.

Albert J. Harrison II: As Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, Harrison oversees an educational system comprising four colleges (Laney, Merritt, Alameda and Vista) with a combined enrollment of 25,000 students and a budget in excess of $80 million.

Harrison has 26 years of experience in financial, municipal and educational administration, including 13 years as vice chancellor of financial services for the District. Before coming to the Peralta Colleges, Harrison was with the international CPA firm, Haskins & Sells.

Chancellor Harrison is a member of numerous professional organizations and nonprofit boards including: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, University Oakland Metropolitan Forum, Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, Oakland Private Industry Council and New Oakland Committee.

Maudelle Shirek: Vice Mayor Shirek is a Berkeley legend. Born nearly 87 years ago in Jefferson, Ark., Shirek came to Berkeley 50 years ago. She has spent her life fighting for civil rights, fair housing, voter registration, the rights of seniors and the needs of children, and for programs, housing and healthcare for people with AIDS.

As a seventh-term member of the Berkeley City Council, Shirek is known widely for her role as an organizer for progressive causes, human rights, labor, peace, justice, and for her passion to help those most in need of services. In 1995, Vice Mayor Shirek chaired the Bay Area Mandela Day Committee and proudly introduced Nelson Mandela to a crowd of 80,000 people at the Oakland Coliseum.

Noel Gallo: Noel Gallo is a two-term member of the Oakland Unified School District Board of Education. He represents the district that includes the Fruitvale and San Antonio neighborhoods.

A graduate of UC Berkeley's School of Business Administration, Gallo led the nonprofit Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation, and currently works as director of General Services for the East Side Union High School District in San Jose. Gallo is a parent of four children, all of whom attend the Oakland schools.