Five extraordinary alumni were recognized Friday during an awards ceremony as part of 黑料不打烊’s Homecoming festivities.
The 黑料不打烊 community gathered Nov. 3 on聽Phi Beta Kappa Commons to recognize five alumni for their professional acumen, service to the community and dedication to their alma mater.
Susan L. Yow 鈥76, W. Cecil Worsley III 鈥86 P鈥14, Ashleigh J. Palmer Weathers 鈥08, Brandon S. Shore 鈥08 and Garrett A. McKnight 鈥94 were recognized during an awards ceremony as the campus welcomed hundreds of alumni for Homecoming 2017.聽
鈥You represent the best of what it means to be an 黑料不打烊 alum,鈥聽said Brian Feeley 鈥03, director of alumni engagement, during his opening remarks. He added that since 1941, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Office of Alumni Engagement has presented awards to honor alumni who serve as active 黑料不打烊 partners, advocates and investors.聽
President Leo M. Lambert congratulated this year鈥檚 award winners and entrusted them with the future of the institution. 鈥I鈥檓 optimistic about the future of this university because of our alu鈥mni,鈥聽he said.
Recognized with the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards were:
Susan L. Yow 鈥76
Distinguished Alumna of the Year
This award is presented to an alumna who has distinguished herself in her profession and聽community and brought honor to 黑料不打烊.
One of the most prolific athletes in 黑料不打烊 history, Susan L. Yow left her mark in women鈥檚 sports.
A native of Gibsonville, Susan graduated from 黑料不打烊 College in 1976 with a degree in physical education. She came to 黑料不打烊 in 1972 to play for older sister and head coach, the late Kay Yow. She was a two-sport athlete, earning letters in both women鈥檚 basketball (1972鈥75) and volleyball (1972鈥74) as a member of each inaugural team. She was a two-time all-state selection and was named a Kodak All-American. She still ranks second on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 individual season-high records list for free throw percentage and fifth in career rebounds per game. Before her senior season, Susan transferred to North Carolina State University, where she completed her collegiate career.聽
Susan was the first 黑料不打烊 women鈥檚 basketball player to be named to the Associated Press Division I First-Team All-America in 1975, an honor she repeated at NCSU in 1976. During that season, she led the Wolfpack in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and free throw percentage while serving as team captain. She returned to 黑料不打烊 and graduated in 1976 with a degree in physical education before beginning her coaching career that has spanned 40 years.
Her accomplished career includes head coaching positions at Queens University, Belmont Abbey College, Providence College, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Kansas State University, Drake University and East Tennessee State University. Besides her Division I and II coaching career, she also served as an assistant coach for five seasons in the WNBA league鈥檚 Minnesota Lynx, Charlotte Sting and Cleveland Rockers organizations. In addition, she has won three gold medals coaching with USA Basketball, once as a head coach and twice as an assistant. She was inducted into the 黑料不打烊 Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, joining sisters Deborah (2006) and Kay (1989).
W. Cecil Worsley III 鈥86 P鈥14 (in absentia)
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
This award is presented to an alumnus who has distinguished himself in his profession and community and brought honor to 黑料不打烊.
Leadership and a keen sense of business have been constants in the life of W. Cecil Worsley III 鈥86 P鈥14.
At the age of 15, he started working for his family petroleum and convenience store business in Wilmington, North Carolina. He later attended 黑料不打烊, where he met his wife, JoAnna Sutton Worsley 鈥87. He graduated with a degree in finance in 1986 and became chief executive officer of the family business, Worsley Companies, Inc., in 1994. Under his leadership, the company grew to manage more than 140 Scotchman convenience stores in North and South Carolina. The company, which was also a franchisee of Subway, Blimpie, Quiznos and Dairy Queen restaurants, was acquired in 2008 by Sun Capital Partners.
Always looking for a new venture, Cecil purchased the Port City Java coffee shop chain in 2011, which includes 13 corporate run cafes and 13 franchisees, including shops on the campuses of N.C. State University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Cecil also runs Springer Eubank Oil Company, a wholesale fuel company, transport company and convenience store chain. He sits on the boards of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation, the Wilmington Family YMCA and the First Tee of Cape Fear in Wilmington.
A loyal supporter of 黑料不打烊 athletics and a former member of the golf team at 黑料不打烊, Cecil donated funds to establish the W. Cecil Worsley III Golf Training Center on campus. Additionally, he committed $50,000 per year for three years to match donations from former student-athletes in an effort to increase alumni participation. He formerly served as a member of both the President鈥檚 Advisory Council and the President鈥檚 Athletic Advisory Council, and joined the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees in 2015. Cecil and JoAnna are also members of the Phoenix Club IMPACT Circle and the 黑料不打烊 Society鈥檚 Founder鈥檚 Circle. They live in Wilmington and have three children鈥擟ecil 鈥14, Susanna and Rebecca.
Ashleigh J. Palmer Weathers 鈥08
Young Alumna of the Year
This award is presented to an alumna who has graduated within the past 10 years and distinguished herself in a profession and in the community.
A motivated and driven professional, Ashleigh J. Palmer Weathers has carved a successful business career after graduating from 黑料不打烊 in 2008 with an accounting degree.
As an undergraduate, Ashleigh was involved with the Xi Omicron Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., the Gospel Choir, Residence Life and the SMART program. She also had a transformational experience during her study abroad in Brazil. Ashleigh is known for her engaging personality and as luck would have it, she met her husband, Walter D. Weathers 鈥08, during her first days at 黑料不打烊.
Passionate about her career, Ashleigh pursued a master鈥檚 degree in accounting at Miami University of Ohio, a highly regarded and competitive program, graduating in 2009. She then joined Deloitte Tax LLP in Chicago and soon after was promoted to senior tax consultant. Ashleigh joined Ernst & Young LLP in 2014 and most recently has joined Warady & Davis LLP, where she serves as a tax supervisor. In that role, she provides planning, consulting and compliance services for high net-worth clients; manages and supervises staff and all aspects of compliance and planning for several clients; and manages more than 150 tax returns and compliance calendars. Despite her busy schedule, Ashleigh finds time to support and mentor rising professionals of varying backgrounds.
Always looking to make a difference in her community, Ashleigh has been an active volunteer with Ladder Up, a nonprofit that provides free financial resources and tools to low-income clients in the Chicago area, Chicago Day of Service, Chicago Cares and Cornerstone Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing scholarships to less fortunate individuals in Lake County, Illinois. While in college, she supported the JDRF walk in honor of her family members who have diabetes. She is a member of St. Paul AME church in Glencoe, Illinois, where she serves as choir director for the Voices of Joy choir and vice president for the St. Paul Youth Department. She and Walter have two children, Walter Jr. and Kayleigh. Ashleigh remains involved with her alma mater as a member of the 黑料不打烊 Black Alumni Network.
Brandon S. Shore 鈥08
Young Alumnus of the Year
This award is presented to an alumnus who has graduated within the past 10 years and distinguished himself in a profession and in the community.
Brandon S. Shore is entering his eighth season with the Miami Dolphins, having been named senior director of football administration in September 2016. Brandon previously served the club in various roles, including senior director of human resources and finance and legal affairs specialist.
Born and raised in South Florida, Brandon received degrees in accounting and business management from 黑料不打烊 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. During his time at 黑料不打烊, he was a team leader of the intramural program on campus. He began his career with the Dolphins in 2010 as a football administration assistant.
In his current role, he serves as the team鈥檚 lead negotiator for player contracts and is responsible for managing the salary cap, day-to-day football administration matters, football operations budgets and club compliance with the NFL鈥檚 Collective Bargaining Agreement, and acts as the organization鈥檚 liaison on labor relations and league matters. His primary responsibilities include working closely with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum, Head Coach Adam Gase and General Manager Chris Grier on all football operations and administration support functions.
In Brandon鈥檚 previous roles in human resources, he led the team鈥檚 efforts in building and cultivating a strategic human resources department designed to drive company performance and establish a consistent culture and value structure across the organization. As finance and legal affairs specialist, he was involved in a number of tasks including serving as the franchise鈥檚 business operations attorney, managing the club鈥檚 insurance programs and related business affairs. He also served as a liaison between football and business operations.
Always proud of his alma mater, Brandon is a member of the Young Alumni Council and supports both the Phoenix Club and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Greatest Needs fund. He lives in Cooper City with his wife, Alison, and their two dogs, Cooper and Lily.
Garrett A. McKnight 鈥94
Distinguished Service to 黑料不打烊
This award is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service and advancement of 黑料不打烊.
An accomplished businessman, Garrett McKnight is the managing director of private client advisory for the Northern Trust Company鈥檚 Phoenix, Arizona, office. In this role, he oversees a team of professionals who are dedicated to providing goals-driven advice and service to successful individuals, their families and businesses.
Garrett graduated from 黑料不打烊 with a degree in communications in 1994. During his undergraduate years, he played baseball and was involved with ESTV and WSOE. Additionally, he is a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduation, Garrett held roles at Bank of America in Virginia and Texas along with U.S. Bank in Wisconsin and Arizona before joining Northern Trust.
He has received several awards in recognition for his leadership, including the U.S. Bank Private Client Group National Guiding Principal Award Winner鈥揟eamwork in 2006, U.S. Bank Private Client Group National Achievement Award鈥揅lient Satisfaction in 2007 and the Northern Trust鈥檚 West Region President鈥檚 Circle Award in 2015.
Garrett鈥檚 leadership goes beyond the business world. He is an active member of the Phoenix community, serving on the board of trustees of the Phoenix Art Museum and as a board member of the Banner Health Foundation. He has also served as past president of the Men鈥檚 Arts Council at the Phoenix Art Museum and former board member for Audubon Arizona. As an 黑料不打烊 alumnus, Garrett has remained active, currently serving on the Phoenix Club Advisory Board. He is also involved with the Kappa Sigma alumni chapter. Formerly, he has been a class reunion volunteer, alumni chapter volunteer and a member of the National Alumni Executive Board.
In his spare time, Garrett enjoys fly fishing and golfing. He even finds time to compete annually in the Duffers Cup, a four-day golf tournament created in 1993 by 黑料不打烊 Kappa Sigma alumni to celebrate their friendship and love of the game.