Leadership Awards Honor Scripps Director, Birch Aquarium Executive Director

The San Diego Daily Transcript has named Tony Haymet, director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, as one of San Diego's most influential leaders. Separately, Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of Birch Aquarium at Scripps, was selected as a "Metro Mover to Watch" in 2009 by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine.

Haymet, who joined Scripps in September 2006 as its 10th director, was chosen by the Daily Transcript as a "Top Influential," a person "whose actions and opinions strongly influence" San Diego industry and business, according to the Transcript's editorial board. Haymet was selected out of a group of more than 200.

Scripps Professor of Geophysics Emeritus Walter Munk, and George Haligowski, chair of the Scripps Director's Cabinet, were both recognized by The Daily Transcript as Top Influentials in 2007.

Hillgarth, who became executive director of Birch Aquarium in 2002, was picked as one of the top 25 Metro Movers by Metropolitan Magazine. The select group is comprised of  "people who will make a difference in 2009 on the business, civic, or nonprofit front," according to Metropolitan Magazine editor Tim McClain. Haymet was selected as a Metro Mover in 2008.

Haymet and Hillgarth will each be featured in upcoming issues of the Transcript and Metropolitan Magazine. Additionally, Hillgarth will be honored at a reception on Dec. 10.