University of Maryland University College alumnus Werner Fornos has been named by President Johannes Rau of the Federal Republic of Germany as the recipient of the prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit. The honor, the highest German government award that can be bestowed on a non-German, was given in recognition of Fornos’s being "at the forefront of the struggle to balance the world’s population with the world’s resources." He is described as the foremost spokesman on global population issues.

Fornos, a 1965 UMUC graduate and president of the Population Institute, was named the university’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 1996. He participated in a number of UMUC Alumni Association activities over the years and served on its board of directors from 1997-99. Fornos is a member of the President's Club.

Dr. Karl H. Pitz, of the German Embassy in the U.S. capital, presented Fornos his medal and certificate at a recent Rotary Club of Washington meeting. In doing so, Pitz called Fornos "an influential voice in global population policy." He observed that Fornos "early recognized the problems related to (the trend of rapid world population growth): food, health, water, mass migrations, wars."

Pitz noted that Fornos "has participated as an expert in nearly every international conference dealing with world population growth. He has put all his energy and efforts into coping with these problems and finding solutions."

Fornos, who was born in Leipzig, Germany, has also for many years worked diligently to further German-American relations and foster mutual understanding between Americans and Germans. He came to the United States four times as a stowaway, and his determination to remain in the United States resulted in much public attention and controversy. Eventually, he became an American citizen by an act of the United States Congress in 1953.

Fornos served for four years as an elected member of the State of Maryland General Assembly and held posts in both state and federal government. He has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the Humanist of the Year Award, the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship, and being named an honorary professor of international relations at Sichuan University, China. He is an elected member of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, the National Press Club, and the Cosmos Club.

Fornos is frequently cited as an expert by national media and is author of the book Gaining People; Losing Ground.

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Note to Editor: Please include the complete name University of Maryland University College (or the acronym UMUC). Abbreviating the name might create confusion with other University System of Maryland institutions.

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