Mortons receive honorary degrees; 1,100 graduate in UNCW ceremony
12/11/2004 11:59:59 AM
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Wilmington, N.C. – The University of North Carolina Wilmington awarded more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate degrees today in ceremonies at Trask Coliseum. In addition, Hugh and Julia Morton were presented honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees.
Hugh Morton, an internationally recognized photographer, environmentalist, tourism advocate and owner of Grandfather Mountain, helped found the Azalea Festival and was instrumental in saving and relocating the Battleship North Carolina to Wilmington. Julia Morton was recognized for her years of dedicated service to education in North Carolina, including three years as a UNCW trustee and 16 years as a member of the UNC Board of Governors.
UNCW Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo and Provost Paul Hosier congratulated the graduates individually. In addition, the following students were recognized for outstanding academic or leadership performance.
Lyndsay Anne Guarino and Sharon Irene Duff Hyde received the UNCW Alumni Association Scholastic Achievement Award which is presented to the graduate who recorded the highest grade point average in his/her respective class and whose academic work was completed exclusively at UNCW.
Guarino, who graduated in July, earned a bachelor of science degree in clinical laboratory science. While at UNCW, she participated in the 3+1 program, completing her senior year at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. She received the American Society for Clinical Pathology certification in July and is employed at Nextwave Diagnostics in Wilmington.
Hyde earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and is pursuing a master’s degree in language and literacy at UNCW. Her goal is to become a reading specialist after obtaining her master’s in 2006. She is currently employed as a first grade teacher at Dixon Elementary School in Holly Ridge, the same elementary school she attended.
Billie Olivia Fleming received the 2004 Rachel Freeman Service and Leadership Award. Established by UNCW and the Freeman family in honor of the late “Mae” Rachel Freeman, the award recognizes a graduate who has demonstrated commitment to better the lives of others and to create social change. Freeman was an active member of the Wilmington community who gave endlessly of her time and energy for the betterment of others.
During Fleming’s undergraduate career, she served on the Chancellor’s Task Force on Diversity; co-chaired the Southeastern African American Student Leadership Conference; and co-coordinated the College Exploration Day Program. She served on the executive boards of the Native American Student Organization and Global Serve. She was a mentor in the Protégé and Leader Program and is the past executive president of the Minority Recruitment Club. She served as president of INROADS, a member of the multi-cultural events committee for the 2003 Azalea Festival and a volunteer with the Love Center’s Voyager Program. She also served as a co-leader on two service trips to the Rosebud Reservation Mission in South Dakota. She plans to pursue a career in business and has just accepted a position with Kraft Foods Corporation.
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Media contact: Mimi Cunningham, university relations, 910/963-3171 or e-mail cunninghamm@uncw.edu.
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