News & Events

UNC Asheville Honors Alumni, Student Leaders at Annual Ceremony

April 11, 2011

UNC Asheville presented its annual alumni and student leadership awards at a recent ceremony on the campus. Awards were presented by Chancellor Anne Ponder, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Bill Haggard and National Alumni Council Chair James Carter ’00.

"We honor an extraordinary group of women and men who are exemplars of the UNC Asheville experience. Women and men, who, as students, alumni and faculty, have served their communities and this university with distinction," said Chancellor Ponder during the ceremony. "They have used their education, many skills and talents to help others. They embody the spirit of selfless service that has been the core of our mission since our founding."

UNC Asheville's highest alumni recognition, the Roy A. Taylor Distinguished Alumnus Award, was presented to Pete McDaniel ’74 for his notable career as a sports writer. For more than 13 years McDaniel served as sport editor for the Hendersonville Times-News, and for the past two decades has served as a senior writer for Golf Digest and Gold World magazines. McDaniel and Earl Woods, father of Tiger Woods, co-authored the best-selling book, “Training a Tiger.” McDaniel also co-authored Tiger Woods’ all-time best-selling golf instruction book, “How I Play Golf.” McDaniel wrote the critically acclaimed “Uneven Lies: The Heroic Story of African Americans in Golf,” which resulted in the Golf Channel documentary, “Uneven Fairways,” which McDaniel co-wrote and co-produced.

Alexis and Ed Johnson received the Thomas D. Reynolds Award for Service to the University. They were honored for their generous and unique contribution to UNC Asheville as the keepers of the university’s mascot, Rocky I. Since Rocky was introduced to Bulldog fans during Homecoming 2009, Alexis '97 and Ed '96 have contributed thousands of hours to the university as "parents" of the mascot, making Rocky a beloved icon of UNC Asheville. Ed is a mathematics lecturer at UNC Asheville.

Kinneil Coltman ’00 was inducted into the Order of Pisgah for outstanding achievement in her professional field. Coltman serves as the Director of Diversity and Language Services for the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center. Through Coltman's leadership, the hospital system has significantly expanded its outreach and ability to serve a broad array of diverse patients. Coltman is also chair of the Board for the International Center of the Upstate, and is active with the YWCA of Greenville and the South Carolina Hospital Association Diversity Council.

The Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award was given to Brenda Hopper, director of the UNC Asheville Teaching Fellows program. Hopper was recognized for her genuine care and concern for her students’ professional and personal wellbeing, and for her exemplary service as a mentor and advisor.

The Francine M. Delany Award for Service to the Community was given to Carol King and Amanda Edwards. In addition to building one of Asheville's most respected accounting firms, Carol L. King and Associates, King '89 was an instrumental leader in the redevelopment of Pack Square in downtown Asheville. As the founding chair of the Pack Square Conservancy, King brought together a diverse and often discordant group of stakeholders to transform Asheville’s historic city center into a park and community gathering space for the 21st century.

Edwards '90, an advocate for literacy, served as executive director of the Friends of Literacy in Knoxville, Tenn. and is now executive director of the Literacy Council of Buncombe County. As a result of Edwards' leadership over the past seven years, the Literacy Council has increased its fundraising by over 60 percent and has significantly expanded its outreach, especially in the Hispanic, Ukrainian and Russian immigrant communities.

Students who participated in the U-LEAD campus leadership program that inspires students to take an active role in the community were also recognized. These include Melanie Bonds, Kristen Emory, Karina Balaoro, Cantrell Brown, Stephen Bava, Brittany Bell, Caitlin Peters, Rebecca Raab and Anne Marie Roberts.

Other student awards presented during the during the event include Outstanding Student Organization of the Year Award to Alliance; Outstanding Program of the Year Award to Rachel Whaley for Lovefest; Innovative Program of the Year Award to Asia Sheppard for the film screening of "Invisible Children"; Community Connections of the Year Award to Maren McGlashnan for her work at the Blue Echo campus radio station; Collaboration of the Year Award to Casey Ward for his work as chair for men's basketball Dog Pound student organization; Carolyn Briggs Diversity Award to H.O.L.A.; Outstanding Community Service Award to Alex Niedermeier; Student Employee of the Year Award to Brian Hart; Emerging Leader of the Year Award to Jiell Richardson; Student Organization President of the Year Award to Heather Driver of the Native American Student Association; and Student Leader of the Year Award to outgoing Student Government Association President Courtney Galatioto.

The Champion for Students Award was presented to Linda Pyeritz, R.N., for her work at the UNC Asheville Health & Counseling Center.