UNCW Alumni Association to Recognize 2007 Alumni and Citizen of the Year During Homecoming Celebration
1/30/2007 1:45:08 PM
E-Mail | Print
Wilmington, N.C. - The University of North Carolina Wilmington Alumni Association has selected the following recipients for the organization's most prestigious annual awards:
Alumnus of the Year - Maj. Gen. Thomas A. "Tommy" Dyches, a Wilmington native and graduate of the class of 1969, is Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Matters. In his role at the Pentagon, Dyches serves as the principal adviser to the chairman on all matters affecting the Reserve Component of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and, where appropriate, the Coast Guard. Dyches is a career fighter pilot, having flown the F-100 "Super Sabre," the F-4 "Phantom" and the F-16 "Viper." Dyches, who grew up in the Sunset Park neighborhood, has received many awards and decorations, including a Defense Superior Service Medal, a Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster and a Bronze Star. His military experience includes commanding a fighter squadron, a seven-nation coalition air expeditionary wing, and the Standing Joint Air Force Headquarters, U.S. Southern Command, in Miami.
Young Alumna of the Year - Mandy Hill Cook will be recognized for her outstanding work as a researcher in marine mammal acoustics. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in marine biology from UNCW in 1999 and 2002, respectively. She holds a doctorate in marine science from the University of South Florida. Cook resides in Hillsboro, Ore.
Distinguished Citizen of the Year - Frank Capra Jr., president of EUE/Screen Gems Studios North Carolina, will be honored for his service to the Wilmington community and the university. Capra, a Wilmington resident and UNCW distinguished visiting professor, founded the university's film studies program. The courses he teaches include the business of film and a studio seminar class. He received an honorary doctorate from the university in 1999.
For more information about the recipients, please visit www.uncw.edu/uniadv/UniversityofNorthCarolinaWilmington-UniversityAdvancement-Dyches.htm.
The UNCW Alumni Association Awards Banquet and Scholarship Endowment Gala will be held Friday, Feb. 9 during the university's Homecoming 2007 celebration. The black-tie event will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Warwick Center Ballroom.
The banquet includes a silent auction of artwork, a six-hour fishing excursion, a catered dinner for eight at the Wise Alumni House and more. Tickets are $100 per person, and all proceeds support the 15 student scholarships the association gives annually to undergraduate and graduate students.
Additional Homecoming events include a step show co-sponsored by the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the African American Graduate Association (AAGA) and pre-game, half-time and post-game receptions for alumni. A detailed list of Homecoming events and ticket information is available on the Alumni Association Web site or by calling the Wise Alumni House at 800.596.2880 or 910.962.2682.
The Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their communities through their professional success and civic involvement. Men and women who graduated from Wilmington College or UNCW are eligible for nomination. The Young Alumnus/Alumna Award has similar criteria but is open only to alumni who graduated from UNCW within the past 10 years. The Citizen of the Year Award recognizes recipients for their exceptional service to the university and the community.
For more information on the UNCW Alumni Association, contact Caroline Norelius, Director, Alumni Relations, Executive Director, Alumni Association, 910.962.2681
Media Contacts: Dana Fischetti, Manager, News and Media Services, 910.96.7259 or Caroline Cropp, Media Relations Specialist, 910.962.7109
|
