Terrell Blackmon ’89
Bryan Delaney ’03
Miriam Espaillat ’13
Scott Price ’87
Alumni Awards
The UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Awards were established in 1985 to recognize those who have made important contributions to the establishment and growth of UNC Charlotte; embody the core principles of the University; and have distinguished themselves through their outstanding service to the University, their chosen field, humanity and/or society.
These awards honor alumni and friends whose careers have been distinguished by significant accomplishments or through extraordinary service to alumni, faculty, students, and communities, especially the underserved.
If you know of an alum deserving of an Alumni Award, please complete the award nomination form. The deadline for nominations is August 31, 2025. Nominations received after the deadline will be considered for the 2027 award ceremonies.
2025 Alumni Award Recipients
Award Categories
ANNUAL AWARD
The Distinguished Alumni Award honors graduates who have made significant contributions to UNC Charlotte and its Alumni Association; dedicated service to the community, state or nation; and/or their career field through professional achievements. There are several criteria for selection: The extent to which the candidate embodies the values and core principals of the University, demonstrates extraordinary service to the University, their field, humanity, or society; provides community and national leadership in their profession, and has had a career that has garnered national and international recognition in ways that bring honor to their profession and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
OCCASIONAL AWARDS
The Outstanding Service Award (formerly Humanitarian Award) recognizes lifelong service to society and honors those who have provided extraordinary service to their community, demonstrating leadership through local or global service, and should be outside of the professional duties of the nominee. The award is only available to alumni. The award honors alumni who exhibit Niner values and have fulfilled the obligations of their education through creative citizenship and exemplary service leadership in ways that benefit society and bring credit to the University.
The Honorary Alumni Award recognizes outstanding individuals who, while not graduates of UNC Charlotte, have made significant contributions to its educational mission. Honorees demonstrate support of education of all students; the desire to leave their own legacy at the university; and serve as models to alumni, students, colleagues and community members.
The Bonnie E. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award is presented on occasion to alumni for extraordinary leadership and accomplishments. It recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the university and community by giving generously of their time, energy and leadership. This award celebrates alumni whose outstanding accomplishments have brought honor and recognition to themselves and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is preserved for those who’ve had a transforming influence for our university and/or for their community, over a lifetime. It is the highest honor the Alumni Association bestows. To preserve the specialness of this award it is only to be given on a select and very occasional basis.
Previous Alumni Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Award
- 1991 – Martha B. Alexander, ‘79
- 1991 – James G. Babb, Jr., ‘58
- 1991 – Wyatt G. Bell, ‘51
- 1991 – Louise S. Brennan, ‘70
- 1991 – Ronald R. Caldwell, M.D., ‘71
- 1991 – Dr. Nancy B. Davis, ’70, ’72
- 1991 – Cameron M. Harris, ’68
- 1991 – Susan B. Ludvigson, ’73
- 1991 – Dr. M. Stephen Mahaley, Jr., ’52
- 1991 – Carlton L. Moody, ’84
- 1991 – David B. Moody, ’84
- 1991 – Dr. Jesse B. Register, ’68, ’71
- 1991 – Chet W. Snow, Jr., ’72
- 1992 – Stephanie R. Counts, ’81
- 1992 – John W. Disher, Sr., ’57
- 1992 – Hulene Dian Hill, ’71
- 1992 – Dr. Freda H. Nicholson, ’76
- 1993 – Maria H. Hall, ’81
- 1993 – Dr. Richard L. Thompson, ’74
- 1994 – T. Vail Carter, ’75
- 1994 – Benjamin F. Chavis Muhammad, ’71
- 1994 – Shelia B. Dillon, ’75
- 1994 – Donald E. Hatley, ’71
- 1994 – Mary N. Kratt, ’92
- 1994 – James M. Mead, ’73
- 1994 – Mary Ann Rouse, ’80
- 1994 – Jane K. Testerman, ’73
- 1995 – John L. Fraley, Jr., ’77
- 1995 – Dr. Arthur H. Jeske, ’70
- 1995 – John O. Lafferty, Jr., ’69
- 1995 – Floyd M. Lockamy, ’73
- 1995 – Reece A. Overcash, Jr., ‘46
- 1996 – Sue A. Becht, ’75
- 1996 – John W. Kilgo, Sr., ’55
- 1996 – Cedric B. Maxwell, ’80
- 1996 – Rodney T. Smith, ’70
- 1997 – Gene Johnson, ’73
- 1997 – Karen A. Popp, ’80
- 1997 – David R. Taylor, ’71
- 1997 – Melvin L. Watkins, ’77
- 1998 – The Honorable T. Fountain Odom, ’57
- 1998 – Manuel L. Zapata, ’69, ’72
- 1999 – Carole Hoefener Carriker, ’82
- 1999 – Ellison D. Clary, Jr., ’68
- 1999 – Dr. Charles B. Rich, Jr., ’77
- 2000 – H. Leigh Derby, ’72
- 2000 – G. Franklin Jones, Jr., ’67
- 2001 – Suzanne Hill Freeman, ’75
- 2001 – R. William McCanless, ’79
- 2002 – Larry R. Ferguson, ’73
- 2002 – Bobby M. Lutz, ’79
- 2003 – Misty Lee Cowan-Hathcock, Ed.D., ’85, ’91, ’92, ’96, ’04
- 2003 – Linda Lee Humble, ’78
- 2003 – Dr. Russell Kologiski, ’71
- 2004 – Tony L. Crumbley, ‘72
- 2004 – James W. Kirk, ’81
- 2004 – Dr. Margaret Stanley-Hagan, ’82
- 2005 – J. Addison Bell, ’76
- 2005 – Mark D. Colone, ’83
- 2005 – Ellis Thomas Fisher, ’77
- 2005 – Harry J. Stathopoulos, ’84
- 2006 – William “Ted” Alexander, III, ’82
- 2006 – Gregory Davis, Ph.D., ’76
- 2006 – Steve Hall, ’84
- 2009 – Robert F. Hull, Jr., ’85
- 2009 – Mr. Joe Lee Price II, ’83
- 2010 – Stephanie G. Ansaldo, ’88
- 2010 – Dhiaa M. Jamil, ’78
- 2010 – Debra S. Morris, ’94, ’99, ’03
- 2012 – Dennis N. Bunker , ’81
- 2012 – John P. Derham Cato , ’73
- 2012 – William T. Crowder, Jr., ’75
- 2012 – Esther Rose Erwin ’61, ’68, ’72, ’83
- 2012 – Ann M. Newman, DSN, ’78
- 2012 – William Curtis Walton, Jr., ’82
- 2013 – Ed Davis, Ed.D., ’02
- 2013 – Harry S. Kirk, ’51
- 2013 – Michael L. Wilson, JD, ’93
- 2015 – Robert W. Brame, Jr., Ph.D., ’88, ’91
- 2015 – S. Mark Doughton, ’80
- 2015 – Johnny R. Graham, Ph.D., ’75, ’83
- 2015 – Kyle J. White, ’13
- 2016 – Susan R. DeVore, ’81
- 2016 – Richard Hudson, ‘96
- 2016 – Donnie Koonce, ’81
- 2016 – Robyn Massey, ’81
- 2017 – David Hauser, ’77
- 2017 – Eric Reichard, ’89
- 2017 – Michael Shields, ’80
- 2018 – Robert Qutub, ’88
- 2018 – Terry Shook, ’76
- 2019 – William Brawley, ’78
- 2019 – Nancy Stallings, ’72
- 2019 – Anne Tompkins, ’84
- 2020 – Wendy Grubbs, ’83
- 2020 – Charles Howard, ’71
- 2021 – Craig Albert, ’85
- 2021 – Susan Jamison, ’78
- 2021 – Demond Martin, ’97
- 2021 – Jason Saine, ’95
- 2021 – Tiffani Teachey, ’03, ’05
- 2023 – Kathleen Merritt, ’83
- 2023 – Donta Wilson, ’97
- 2023 – Jane Wu, ’07
- 2024 – Bryan Starnes, ’87
- 2024 – David Ravin, ’94
- 2024 – Alain Miatudila, ’03, ’12, ’16
- 2024 – Jeffrey Cox, ’01
- 2024 – Dean Arp, ’99
- 2025 – Terrell Blackmon, ’89
- 2025 – Bryan Delaney, ’03
- 2025 – Scott Price, ’87
- 2025 – Joyce Davis Waddell, ’73
Outstanding Service Award
Honorary Alumni Award
- 1994 – Dale Halton
- 1995 – Dr. Loy Witherspoon
- 1996 – J. Kenneth Sanford
- 1997 – Tom Phillips
- 1997 – Lib Phillips
- 1998 – Willard Gourley
- 1998 – Harold “Ham” Morris (posthumously)
- 2000 – Bonnie E. Cone
- 2001 – Dr. Dean Colvard
- 2002 – Dr. E. K. Fretwell
- 2003 – Jeff V. Mullins
- 2005 – Mildred English
- 2010 – Kathi Baucom
- 2012 – James H. Woodward, Ph.D.
- 2013 – Elinor Caddell
- 2015 – Thomas C. Turner, Ph.D.
- 2016 – Charles “Chuck” F. Lynch
- 2017 – Celia Laney
- 2018 – Betty Stancil
- 2018 – Judy Rose
- 2019 – Delbridge Narron
- 2020 – Dr. Philip L. Dubois
- 2021 – Sadler Barnhardt
- 2021 – Debbie Barnhardt
- 2023 – Fred Klein
Bonnie E. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1985 – James G. Babb, Jr., ’58
- 1986 – Dr. M. Stephen Mahaley, Jr., ’52
- 1987 – Martha B. Alexander, ’79
- 1988 – Susan B. Ludvigson, ’73
- 1989 – Ronald R. Caldwell, M.D., ’71
- 1990 – Carlton L. Moody, ’84
- 1990 – David B. Moody, ’84
- 1991 – Cameron M. Harris, ’68
- 1992 – Stephanie R. Counts, ’81
- 1993 – Wyatt G. Bell, ’51
- 1994 – Benjamin F. Chavis Muhammad, ’71
- 1995 – Reece A. Overcash, Jr., ’46
- 1996 – J. W. “Bill” Disher, ’57
- 1997 – Karen A. Popp, ’80
- 1998 – The Honorable T. Fountain Odom, ’57
- 1999 – Dr. Charles B. Rich, Jr., ’77
- 2000 – Gene Johnson, ’73
- 2001 – Manuel L. Zapata, ’69, ’72
- 2002 – Cedric Bryan Maxwell, ’80
- 2003 – Mary Ann Rouse, ’80
- 2004 – H. Leigh Derby, IV, ’72, ’84
- 2005 – Suzanne Hill Freeman, ’75
- 2006 – David R. Taylor, Sr., ’71
- 2012 – Gregory Davis, Ph.D., ’78
- 2012 – Misty Lee Cowan-Hathcock, Ed.D., ’85, ’91, ’92, ’96, ’04
- 2013 – Shelia B. Dillon, ’75
- 2016 – Dhiaa Jamil, ’78
- 2019 – Robert Niblock, ’84
- 2020 – John P. Derham Cato, ’73
- 2024 – Susan DeVore ’81
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
This award was retired after 2023. Young alumni are now recognized with the Top 10 Under Ten Awards.
- 1996 – Thomas “Tom” Goins, ’89
- 1997 – John “Jack” T. Burke, ’90
- 1998 – David L. Miller, ’92
- 1999 – Steve Gardner, ’90, ’92
- 2000 – Lisa Odom Kidd, ’95
- 2001 – Jim Kunevicius, ’98
- 2002 – Matthew Michalewicz, ’98
- 2003 – Arthur Wylie, ’99
- 2004 – Henry Williams, Jr., ’92
- 2005 – Jason W. Suggs, ’98
- 2006 – Clay Aiken, ’03
- 2009 – Demond Martin, ’97
- 2010 – Derrick Smith, ’00
- 2012 – Ashley Wood Clark, ’05, ’06
- 2013 – Adrienne D. Barnette, ’04, ’07
- 2015 – Fabian D. Elliott, ’12
- 2016 – Brett Tempest, ’04, ’07, ’10
- 2017 – Terry Brown, Jr. ’09
- 2018 – Lauren Lowery, ’09
- 2018 – DeAndrea Salvador, ’13
- 2018 – Meghan Stamper, ’08
- 2019 – Victoria Watlington, ’13
- 2020 – Dr. Shabari Basu, ’13
- 2020 – Kevin Brawley ’13
- 2023 – Andrew Baker ’15
Distinguished Faculty Award
This award was retired in 2023. Faculty are now recognized through other University Faculty/Staff Awards & Honors.
- 1996 – Dr. Al Stuart | Professor, Geography
- 1997 – Dr. Bobbie Rowland | Professor, Child & Family Development
- 1998 – Dr. Timothy D. Mead | Professor, Political Science
- 1999 – Dr. Harold B. Reiter | Professor, Mathematics
- 2000 – Dr. Ted Arrington | Chairperson & Professor, Political Science
- 2001 – Dr. Owen Furuseth | Chairperson & Professor, Geography
- 2002 – Dr. Richard “Rick” Conboy | Associate Dean & Associate Professor, Management
- 2002 – Dr. Robert “Bob” J. Mundt (posthumously) | Dean, The Graduate School
- 2003 – Dr. Richard H. Toenjes | Associate Professor, Philosophy
- 2004 – Dr. JoAnn Springs | Professor, College of Education
- 2005 – Dr. James E. Lyons | Professor, Department of Educational Leadership
- 2012 – Mary Lynne Calhoun, Ph.D. | Retired, Dean, UNC Charlotte College of Education
- 2013 – Albert A. Maisto, Ph.D. | Professor, Psychology
- 2015 – L. Howard Godfrey, Ph.D. | Professor, Accounting
- 2016 – Melba Spooner, Ed.D. | Senior Associate Dean, College of Education
- 2017 – Dr. William “Bill” Ribarsky (posthumously) | Bank of America Endowed Chair in Information Technology
- 2018 – Jeanneine Jones, Ed.D. | Professor, Middle Grades Education
- 2019 – Herman E. Thomas, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies
- 2020 – Dr. Jeffrey Leak | Professor of English
- 2021 – Dr. Mark West | Professor of English
- 2023 – Dr. Tracy Rock | Professor of Reading & Elementary Education