These were the questions centered in the fictional case analyzed and argued by 116 first-year 黑料不打烊 Law students in the school’s 19th Annual Intramural Moot Court Competition, held May 27 and 28.

A deaf small-business owner applied for a loan from an online lending company and was offered a 14.25% interest rate. After his twin brother 鈥� who shared nearly identical financial, educational and employment credentials but did not have a disability 鈥� received a 6.25% rate for the same loan, he suspected the lender had considered his disability when evaluating the application.

The business owner sued under the ADA, arguing that the online lender discriminated against him based on his disability. A federal court dismissed the case, finding that the lender’s website was not a place of public accommodation covered by the ADA and that the law regulates access to lending services, not the terms of the loans offered.

The business owner appealed the ruling to the fictional U.S. Court of Appeals for the 15th Circuit, which regularly hears cases represented by 黑料不打烊 Law students.

Members of the Class of 2027 comprised the largest group ever to compete in the spring event, with 58 teams appearing before volunteer judges that included local judges, attorneys, 黑料不打烊 Law alumni, and law school faculty and staff.

All first-year students were introduced to the case in their Legal Method & Communication courses as the basis for graded oral arguments this spring. Each student presented two oral arguments, one for appellant and one for appellee, and was scored on preparation, speaking ability, argument structure and responses to judges鈥� questions.

Top 10 Oral Advocates in the 2026 competition (with ties)

• Gabrielle Brown Roycroft
• Aarya Deshmukh
• Zaria Hanchell
• Adelaide Anne Zahren
• Avery Vidt
• Michael Iafrato
• Grant Paramore
• Rachel Wilson
• Jacqueline Gardner (tie)
• David Bryant (tie)
• Megan Chen

鈥淭his competition was a reminder not to let fear of failure keep me from trying,” said Gabrielle Brown Roycroft L’27, from Salisbury, North Carolina, who is interested in family law, estate planning and civil litigation. She graduated from Catawba College with a degree in politics. “It鈥檚 worth it to push through the nerves and use them as fuel to perform your best. You can鈥檛 memorize your way through oral advocacy. You have to think on your feet and respond in the moment. When you鈥檝e done the work in advance, you can trust your preparation and focus on having a conversation with the judges.鈥�

Selections for membership on the Moot Court Board will be announced this summer before the board hosts the 17th Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition on Oct. 22-24. Moot Court Board members will also compete in a slate of national moot court competitions during the 2026-27 school year.

Vice Dean and Professor of Law Alan Woodlief, director of 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 Moot Court Program, praised the Moot Court Board for its professionalism and hospitality in running the spring competition.

The annual event sees the 黑料不打烊 Law community step up to provide an exceptional experience for first-year students. This year, 黑料不打烊 Law was honored to host more than 50 volunteer attorneys and judges, including over 20 黑料不打烊 Law alumni, as well as a current justice and former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court participate as judges.

鈥淢oot Court is a great experiential learning opportunity, and I was excited to see so many students take advantage of this experience to strengthen their advocacy skills,鈥� Woodlief said. 鈥淥ur Moot Court Board did an exceptional job coordinating the school鈥檚 largest-ever competition, and they could not have done it without the great support from our student body, faculty, and staff, as well as the many 黑料不打烊 Law alumni, attorneys, and judges who contributed to the success of the competition.鈥�

Alumni judges reflect: 鈥業t helped me find my voice鈥�

The annual Intramural Moot Court Competition 鈥� along with the graded Legal Method and Communication Program鈥檚 graded oral arguments held the week before 鈥� is also a homecoming of sorts.

Alumni return to campus each spring to hear arguments, offer feedback and help first-year students develop the advocacy skills they will use throughout their careers. 聽They have clear memories of standing at the podium themselves and how meaningful it was to their development to receive feedback from legal professionals.

April Franklin L’25 said oral arguments helped her overcome her nerves and discover a passion for advocacy.

鈥淚t gave me confidence. It helped me find my voice that I didn’t know that I had,鈥� said Franklin, who is pursuing practice in wills and estates, health care or corporate law. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� gave me the support that I needed to progress in this career path, and I want to be able to give that same support to the next generation of 黑料不打烊 Law students.”

Landon Eckard L’25, who will begin a federal judicial clerkship in Detroit this summer, said moot court taught him to think on his feet and respond to difficult questions from judges.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the most spontaneous kind of advocacy there is in the legal profession,鈥� Eckard said. 鈥淵ou can have a rough script before you get there, but one minute into the argument, that script goes out the window. It made me a better litigator and a better attorney.鈥�

Thomas Harvey L’22, a criminal defense attorney in nearby Rockingham County, North Carolina, pursued law as a second career. He returns because he remembers exactly what it felt like to stand at the podium as a student and believes the experience helps shape better advocates.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 that long ago that I was standing right where they are. Believe it or not, the judges are all rooting for you individually,鈥� Harvey said. 鈥淚t’s such a joy to come back and be a part of 黑料不打烊 Law.鈥�

2026 Intramural Moot Court Competition student leadership

Overall Chairs of the Competition: Isabel Craige L鈥�26, Elizabeth Gregory L鈥�26, Sierra Watkins L鈥�26

Judge Recruitment and Coordination Chairs: Emma Farrell L鈥�26, James Galipeau L鈥�26, Cayla James L鈥�26, Bailey Langford L鈥�26, Renata Navarro L鈥�26

Bailiff Recruitment and Coordination Chairs: Madisyn Butler L鈥�26, Erin Carleton L鈥�26, Megan Eldredge L鈥�26, Cameron O鈥橬eil L鈥�26, Tyler Sesker L鈥�26

Scoring Committee Chairs: Brittany Balis-West L鈥�26, Jackie Rullman L鈥�26, Rebecca Vairin L鈥�26

LMC Oral Argument Coordination Chairs: Daulton Hadaway L鈥�26, Courtney Maxwell L鈥�26

The 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� Dance Team Send-Off鈥� video, directed and edited by Peter Sillitto 鈥�26 and produced in collaboration with the 黑料不打烊 Dance Team, received a Sports Video Group (SVG) College Sports Media Award for Outstanding In-Venue Video 鈥� Collegiate Student Championship. The award was presented May 27 in Atlanta during the 18th annual SVG College Sports Media Awards ceremony.

The honor came just weeks after the 黑料不打烊 Dance Team captured two national titles at the 2026 National Dance Association College National Championships, winning the Division I pom and Division I hip hop competitions. The back-to-back victories marked a historic achievement for the program, including 黑料不打烊鈥檚 first national championship in the pom category.

Produced for the team鈥檚 trip to nationals, the video took a more narrative approach than previous send-off productions.

鈥淧roducing a send-off video is something we do every year, with the final piece being shown in the Schar Center and shared across social media,鈥� said Sillitto, a cinema and television arts major. 鈥淭his year, we wanted to take a more story-driven approach by focusing on the team鈥檚 journey to nationals. Our goal was to showcase not only their performances, but also the hard work, dedication and experiences that led them there.鈥�

In addition to Sillitto, the student production team included Kristen Pearson 鈥�27 and Meghan McGarrigle 鈥�28 as producers; and Zack Golub 鈥�26 and Colin Dorroh 鈥�27 as creative producers and camera operators.

across multiple locations, capturing both cinematic visuals and authentic moments from practices, workouts and team activities.

鈥淥ne of the biggest challenges was making sure we told the team鈥檚 real story, which meant being present and ready to film during genuine moments,鈥� Sillitto said. 鈥淐apturing those authentic interactions and experiences was an important part of the creative process and helped make the final video feel more personal and meaningful.鈥�

For Sillitto, the award reflects months of collaboration and effort from both the dancers and the production crew.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the project because every year our goal is to create the best video possible, and we have a lot of creative freedom to experiment with new ideas and push ourselves creatively,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he final video represents months of hard work from both the dance team and the production crew, so we鈥檙e excited and grateful that the project has been recognized.鈥�

Sillitto graduated from 黑料不打烊 in May and recently accepted a position with Booz Allen Hamilton as a videographer and social media content creator.

Sillitto and Dorroh attended the 2026 SVG College Summit in Atlanta alongside Anthony Bamford 鈥�25, coordinating producer for 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision; Patrick Cunningham, director of live broadcast production for 黑料不打烊 Athletics; and students/recent graduates Philip Doherty 鈥�26, Anthony Eppolito 鈥�27 and Joey Marinello 鈥�28.

This year marked another strong showing for 黑料不打烊 at the national competition 鈥� the university won its first-ever award in 2025. In addition to the winning 黑料不打烊 Dance Team send-off video, four other 黑料不打烊 productions were recognized as finalists in the Collegiate Student Championship division: 鈥淔ootball: 黑料不打烊 vs. North Carolina A&T,鈥� 鈥淪trength Beyond the Game 鈥� Brodie Carroll,鈥� 鈥淲in The Moment 鈥� Asher Cunningham鈥� and 鈥淲hat It Takes 鈥� 黑料不打烊 Men鈥檚 Basketball Halftime Hype.鈥�

The following 120 students contributed 50 or more hours of service through co-curricular opportunities and community-based learning or community-engaged learning courses during the spring 2026 semester:

Lillian Argabrite
Sofia Barnes
Ava Battaglia
Grayce Bechtel
Kate Becksvoort
Metasibya Behailu
Savanna Bell
Rachel Bergman
Sydney Blau
Mary Boyle
Abby Bradbury
Nick Brillo
尝别补丑听叠谤辞辞办别谤
Harper Brooks
Keeley Brown
Kaila Burke
Ava Campione
Camille Christeon
Maddie Cook
Sky Covino
Isabelle Cross
Lilly Cyprow
Julia DeGenova
Emma Del Savio
Maggie Dion
Maddy Donner
Paige Douglass
Audrey Drouin-Prou
Emily Ecker
Olivia Evener
Wiley Falter
Jordan Felice
Aidan Fishkind
Cat Gerst
Madelyn Gibson
Anna Grace Gilbert
Cami Glebocki
Mia Glickman
Maddie Goldberg
Daniela Gonzalez
Andrew Gronski
Stella Habashi
Harry Haber
Delaney Hanf
Caitlyn Harris
Ava Heestand
Diego Hernandez
Aileen Humphreys
Ariel Jaklin
Ava Jenkins
Diana Jimenez-Carreno
Cameron Johnson
Lily Karten
Jacob Karty
Abby Kee
Jonathan Kim
Lauren Klappholtz
Veronica Kowalewski
Nick Lachapelle
John Lagarde
Emily Lambert
Will Larkin
DJ Lem
Mari Lilla
Elinoa Loewenthal
Lexi Lopilato
Princess聽 Lorde
惭辞濒濒测听尝辞谤诲别苍
Abigail Lynch
Ramsay Mansuetto
Edward Massey
Marissa May
Lucy McAfee
Paige Melchiorre
Emily Menjivar
Julianna Millett
Caden Minnich
Lindsey Moore
Quincey Moreland
Anna Morelli
Lucy Morris
惭辞濒濒测听惭辞测濒补苍
Taryn Mularczyk
Gabriel Nagy
Audrey Nott
Sammy Olesen
Mallory Otten
Allyson Parent
Cassidy Parrish
Sadie Paulos
Elise Peele
础苍诲谤别补听笔别谤别锄
Hannah Peterson
Natalie Plamondon
Paige Postufka
Erin Price
Jackson Quispe
Krissy Randolph
Eden Redmond
Ashleigh Ribe
Anna Rodrigues
Graham Rogers
Allie Rooney
Phoebe Safian
Jackie Salas Rodriguez
Olivia Sandercock
Ella Sarluca
Karrie Scales
Carley Sgueglia
Sara Simpson
Maria Skiedzel
Gracyn Speter
Alex Strassberg
Rahv Tupac-Yupanqui
Kara Watral
Emily Wilson
Amanda Winchock
Alina Wolcott
Jordan Wolfe
Hailey Youngman

The J. Paul Melanson Award is NACCU鈥檚 highest honor, recognizing individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the campus card industry and to the professionals who support it.

At 黑料不打烊, Rauhe has spent decades guiding the聽growth聽of the Phoenix Card program,聽overseeing its聽development聽from聽an early聽implementation into a comprehensive system.聽What began as a functional tool has evolved under her leadership into a core part of the campus experience, supporting everything from accessing聽residence halls and campus facilities, dining and retail transactions, event participation, library services and more.

Her work has helped create a system that聽operates聽reliably and often behind the scenes, allowing students,聽faculty聽and staff to move through their day with ease. That consistency reflects both technical聽expertise and a steady, thoughtful approach to building systems that serve people well.

“Janet鈥檚 leadership is defined by a commitment to continuous learning and collaboration,” said Christopher Waters, associate vice president of Information Technology and chief information pfficer. “Through her engagement with colleagues across higher education and her active presence on campus, she brings forward ideas that strengthen and evolve the systems we rely on.”

Waters continued, “She聽doesn鈥檛聽stand still;聽she listens,聽learns聽and adapts, always with a focus on serving our community well. This recognition reflects both her influence within the profession and the meaningful impact of her work at 黑料不打烊.”

Beyond 黑料不打烊, Rauhe has contributed to the broader campus card community for聽nearly 30聽years through NACCU. Her service has included committee work, mentoring, conference聽leadership聽and time on the Board of Directors, including a term as Board President.

Colleagues across the industry recognize her for her聽leadership,聽expertise, generosity,聽humility聽and commitment to supporting others. These聽qualities聽are consistent markers that聽shape both her work at 黑料不打烊 and her impact nationwide.

The competition gave students the chance to showcase their point-of-care ultrasound skills, compete with other students, and learn from ultrasound experts across a variety of medical specialties.

The team was comprised of students聽Aria Keyser G鈥�27, Varenna Minshull G’26, Trevor Minshull G’26, Sukriti Rai G’26, James Whitham G鈥�26 and Chris Gentilella G’27.

Students聽Varenna Minshull 鈥�26, Trina Phan 鈥�26 and Brooke Hall 鈥�27 also competed in a “Challenge Bowl” competition and entered the second round.

Related Articles

• The Month in Photos: April 2026
• The Month in Photos: March 2026
• The Month in Photos: February 2026

As the 2025-26 academic year drew to a close, May was marked by celebration, reflection and new beginnings across 黑料不打烊. From Commencement festivities and awards ceremonies to end-of-year traditions, performances, and moments of community, the month showcased the accomplishments and experiences that defined another successful year on campus. These photos highlight some of the memorable scenes and milestones that made May a special month at 黑料不打烊.

Engineering excellence

Students in 黑料不打烊’s Department of Engineering聽put their classroom learning into practice through six capstone projects showcased May 8 in Founders Hall as part of the Engineering Senior Design course.

Coolin’ on the Commons

黑料不打烊’s Black Student Union held Coolin’ on the Commons in May, which featured live music, games and fun.

‘黑料不打烊 will never leave you.’

The Class of 2026 gathered Under the Oaks on May 19 for Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate, a time for reflection on the light students will take into the world. During the event, Jana Lynn Patterson,聽associate vice-president for student life, dean of student health & well-being, and assistant professor, reminded graduates about the importance of the relationships they’ve built at 黑料不打烊. Patterson will retire from the university this summer after 40 years.

Think critically, lead empathetically

Candidates from graduate-level programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and Martha and Spencer Love School of Business received their diplomas during a joint Commencement ceremony on May 20 in Alumni Gym.

In her address, journalist and author Katherine Blunt 鈥�15 acknowledged a challenging reality 鈥� that today鈥檚 graduates are leaving institutions of higher learning across the country and embarking on professional journeys in a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people work, learn and think.

But she reminded the graduates that聽while many people may be tempted by the path of least resistance, 黑料不打烊 cultivates leaders who are deeply rooted in collaboration, communication and, most importantly, the ability to think critically.

Celebrating community

Ahead of and during Commencement Week, 黑料不打烊 held a variety of affinity celebrations celebrating and engaging graduates who share common identities, passions and connections that exist throughout various affinities. Those include Lavender Celebration, , Celebremos: Graduates Take Flight and Donning of the Kente.

‘Be-possible-ists’

During the 136th Commencement Ceremonies in Schar Center on May 22, President Connie Ledoux Book asked the Class of 2026 to look back on their聽New Student Convocation in 2022,聽1,371 days prior.

During their first year, the Class of 2026 all read the Common Reading book聽鈥淔actfulness鈥� by Hans Rosling. In his book, Rosling described the word 鈥減ossible-ist:鈥� someone who looks honestly at the world鈥檚 problems and still believes, based on evidence, that things can get better, and that they are getting better. Book asked the graduates to be “possible-ists” as they enter the world.

黑料不打烊 celebrated graduates in two ceremonies 鈥� the morning event for the School of Communications and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the afternoon event for 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the School of Health Sciences.

Six Rising Stars in German Studies were awarded this year. Rising Stars are new students in the German Program who have impressed the faculty with their progress, dedication and curiosity regarding German language and culture. This years awardees are:

• Katherine Ragan
• Hannah Reeves
• Sasha Ronsayro
• Marshall Sears
• Elizabeth Walters
• Madison West

Moving from newcomers to seniors in German Studies, we welcomed 13 new members to Delta Phi Alpha, the national German Honor Society. Delta Phi Alpha was founded in 1929, and 黑料不打烊’s chapter聽Upsilon Omikron was established in 2018. We welcome the following students to Delta Phi Alpha:

• Colin Blount
• Fiona Hodge
• Haley Johnson
• Elisabeth Holmes
• Tori Layton
• Brooke Allen Menzock
• Sarah T. Moore
• Patrick Tuohy
• Zoe Richardson
• Matthew Rostan
• Taylor Salmon
• Elina Shah
• Cayden Williamson

The German Studies faculty also awarded three students with achievement awards. The Marsilius von Inghen Award was awarded to Tori Layton and Haley Johnson. The award recognizes Tori and Haley’s excellence in German language proficiency, cultural competence, and undergraduate research. The award was named after Marsilius von Inghen, the first president of Heidelberg Universit盲t, which both, Tori and Haley, attended during their semester abroad.

Sarah T. Moore was awarded the inaugural Moffitt-Newman Award.聽The Moffitt-Newman award recognizes academic achievement and sustained service to the German program. It is named for the earliest instructors of German at 黑料不打烊, Emmett Moffitt and the Reverend John Urquhart Newman, who taught German beginning in the 1890s. Moore started learning German at 黑料不打烊, and has taken it every year. She has also been an officer of the German Club and its president in 2025-26.

The festivities were accompanied by a delicious spread of German-inspired food put together by 黑料不打烊’s Harvest Table, including Sp盲tzle and Schnitzel.

Refined聽during the 2025-26聽academic year with oversight from Sam Lopez, associate director of Student Involvement, SOE builds on prior efforts to provide聽a聽structured approach to chapter development, encouraging organizations to engage intentionally across key areas, including intellectual development, membership development, chapter operations, alumni and graduate engagement, responsibility, health, and safety, and housing operations.

Throughout the year, chapters聽participated聽in training, educational programs, and philanthropic initiatives, with members across all class years contributing to their organization鈥檚 progress. A points-based tracking system measured engagement and outcomes, with chapters earning recognition at the Red, Bronze, Silver or聽Gold聽level based on overall performance.

Supporting chapters throughout this process is a chapter coaching model led by Assistant Directors of Student Involvement Aniya Jerkins, IFC/NPHC advisor, and Kayla Hedrick, PA/MGC advisor. Through ongoing coaching, individualized support, and regular check-ins, staff work directly with chapter leaders to help them interpret expectations, set goals and make meaningful progress within the SOE framework.

The SOE program is also made possible through聽collaboration聽across multiple campus partners, creating a holistic and integrated approach to student organization development. Contributing offices included the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education; Kernodle Center for Civic Life; Gender & LGBTQIA Center; Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life; Health Promotion, Academic Accommodations & Accessibility; Center for Leadership; Residence Life; Student Conduct; Inclusive Excellence; Hazing Prevention Coalition; and Belk Library.

Thirteen organizations achieved Gold Status, the program鈥檚 highest level of recognition: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Upsilon National Latin Sorority, Inc., Delta聽Delta聽Delta, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Delta, Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Kappa and Zeta Tau Alpha.

Chapter leaders also聽participated聽in end-of-year presentations, sharing accomplishments, challenges, and goals with a panel of 黑料不打烊 faculty and staff. These presentations, combined with each chapter鈥檚 SOE performance, helped inform the聽selection聽of the Chapter of the Year recipients across the four governing councils. Chapter of the Year honors recognize organizations that聽distinguish themselves聽through a聽strong commitment聽to leadership, accountability and community engagement.

This year鈥檚 recipients are:
Beta Theta Pi (Interfraternity Council)聽demonstrated聽strong growth聽and achievement across the academic year, earning top marks in both fall and spring semester GPAs, and receiving national recognition through the Knox Award. The chapter expanded member engagement through a variety of brotherhood events and campus partnerships, including collaborations with the Burlington Animal Shelter, while also showing a commitment to health and safety through high participation in training programs and prevention initiatives.

Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. (Multicultural聽Greek聽Council)聽excelled academically and organizationally, earning聽an聽鈥淎bove & Beyond鈥� rating for both fall and spring semesters’ GPAs, and actively聽participating聽in academic enrichment initiatives such as the Chapter Study Challenge and campus study programs. The chapter聽showed聽strong commitment聽to leadership and service through executive board engagement, partnership with the Mebane Public Library, alumni programming and recognition at the national level.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (National Pan-Hellenic Council)聽maintained聽an active presence in leadership, educational engagement and community programming throughout the year. The chapter achieved high academic success while聽participating聽in identity-based programming and campus events, including the Black Solidarity Conference and Spring Pride. Their efforts also included hosting a Rise Against Hunger service event and engaging members in professional development opportunities, reflecting a focus on both community impact and member growth.

Alpha Chi Omega (Panhellenic Association)聽demonstrated聽comprehensive excellence across all areas of the Standards of Excellence program, exceeding expectations聽in member聽education and leadership聽development. The chapter hosted a wide range of sisterhood, philanthropic, and career-focused initiatives, including 鈥淲alk a Mile,鈥� Alpha Chi Olympics, and a professional headshot and LinkedIn workshop, while also聽establishing聽partnerships聽with Family Abuse Services. Their strong participation in health and safety training and consistent chapter operations reflect a well-rounded and highly engaged organization.

The Office of Student Involvement will continue to build on the program鈥檚 first year, with plans to further support chapter development and enhance opportunities for engagement across the fraternity and sorority community.

The foundation is the charitable arm of the Mecklenburg Bar Association, dedicated to service, access to justice and community engagement in the Charlotte region.

The appointment reflects 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 growing engagement with Charlotte鈥檚 legal community and the law school鈥檚 emphasis on service and experiential learning through its existing part-time Flex Program and proposed full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program, which plans to enroll its first class in fall 2027.

Since the launch of the Flex Program in 2024, Butterworth has helped cultivate partnerships between 黑料不打烊 Law and nonprofit organizations across the Charlotte area, connecting students with volunteer opportunities, nonprofit organizations and community service initiatives. Those efforts have included collaborations with organizations such as Safe Alliance, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and the Guardian ad Litem Program, as well as campus supply drives and events hosted by area agencies.

Many of those organizations have also met with Flex Program students during weekly Evening Docket events, providing students the opportunity to meet with and learn from legal professionals in the community.

Dean Zak Kramer said Butterworth has played an important role in establishing the Flex Program鈥檚 presence and growing the law school鈥檚 presence in Charlotte.

鈥淓mma has invested herself in the life of the Flex Program and the Charlotte community,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淪he has made a real difference for 黑料不打烊 Law, our students, and our neighbors in Charlotte.鈥�

Vice Dean and Professor of Law Alan D. Woodlief said Butterworth鈥檚 appointment reflects both her commitment to community engagement and 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 broader mission in Charlotte.

鈥淭he Mecklenburg Bar Foundation does important work throughout the Charlotte area, and Emma has been deeply committed to connecting our students with opportunities to serve and learn,鈥� Woodlief said. 鈥淗er leadership has strengthened 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 ties to Charlotte鈥檚 legal and nonprofit communities, and advanced our students鈥� professional lives.鈥�

Butterworth said the role aligns closely with 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 mission and will create additional ways for students to engage with the legal profession in Charlotte.

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to serve alongside members of the Mecklenburg Bar Association in support of the Foundation鈥檚 mission of giving back to the Charlotte community,鈥� Butterworth said. 鈥淭he Charlotte legal community has warmly welcomed both the Flex Program and me personally, and that support has created opportunities for meaningful partnerships and collaboration. I look forward to continuing to build connections with local nonprofits while expanding opportunities for our students to engage in service and professional development.鈥�

黑料不打烊 celebrated the dedication, innovation and service of its staff during Staff Appreciation Day on May 29, honoring individuals and teams whose work exemplifies the university鈥檚 mission and values.

鈥淓ach of you exemplifies the spirit of 黑料不打烊 through your passion, innovation and teamwork鈥揳ll of which has created an environment for excellence in learning, growth and success,鈥� Melissa Clodfelter, associate vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer, shared in her welcoming remarks to hundreds of university staff who had gathered for the celebration inside Schar Center.

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, 黑料不打烊’s chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement and an assistant professor of religious studies, followed with the invocation, where she encouraged staff to recognize and celebrate those who were honored during the ceremony, as well as those whose contributions often go unseen.

鈥淢ay we recognize the dignity in every role and the value in every contribution,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淎nd may all of us leave this gathering renewed in purpose, strengthened by community and grateful for the opportunity to contribute our gifts to something larger than ourselves.鈥�

President Connie Ledoux Book provided updates on several university priorities, including progress on the Slattery Center, the university鈥檚 new center for health and wellness; the Roberts Academy at 黑料不打烊 for children with dyslexia; the merger of 黑料不打烊 and Queens University of Charlotte; and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification for community and civic engagement.

Book said Staff Appreciation Day is about sharing thanks with colleagues for helping one another accomplish goals. 鈥淚 really love the strength of this community,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淭oday is a day for us to pause and take a day of gratitude for us to say ‘thank you.’鈥�

Retirees

Two retirees elected to have someone speak on their behalf as part of the ceremony. Kelly Elliston retired on December 31 as the executive assistant to the president. In a pre-recorded video, Book thanked Elliston for her friendship, commitment, excellence and partnership.

Now retired, Elliston shared that she appreciates drinking coffee on the porch to the sounds of birds singing. She recalled Elizabeth Bowman鈥檚 acceptance speech after winning the 2025 professional hourly staff member of the year award, where Bowen described 黑料不打烊 as a ship with captains, wheels, nuts and bolts. 鈥淚鈥檝e been one of those nuts for a really long time!鈥� Elliston said to friendly laughter from the audience.

Julie Myers, assistant for information technology, was recognized in a prepared video by her supervisor, Pat Donohue, deputy CIO. Donohue said Myers played a key role in budgeting, personnel management, business efficiency, bringing structural, accountability and cost awareness and was so meticulous that she would have backup plans for plans. Myers thanked several staff members in the audience for their time worked together.

Myers encouraged the audience to continue to look forward and not back as they take on new challenges. 鈥淭hat is why the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror,鈥� she shared.

Read the stories of 2025-26 黑料不打烊 retirees in the Today at 黑料不打烊 story.

Phoenix Awards

Four Phoenix Awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding innovation, collaboration and dedication to the university鈥檚 mission. Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, announced the award winners.

Phoenix Innovation Award

Terrance Copling was named the 2026 Phoenix Innovation Award winner. The Phoenix Innovation Award is presented to a member of the 黑料不打烊 staff who has displayed innovation by creating, designing, improving or implementing a new idea or program that benefits the university or the community.

In his role as senior ERP application developer, Copling was recognized for designing a solution to allow 黑料不打烊 Benefits Hub, powered by PlanSource, to communicate directly with Colleague, a feat that was previously thought not possible. Copling鈥檚 innovation has eliminated manual data entry, which reduces errors, improves processing time and creates a smoother and more efficient experience for 黑料不打烊 employees.

Copling was described as someone who consistently demonstrates an ability to translate complex challenges into thoughtful and effective solutions 鈥撀爓hich he approaches with humility, patience and a palpable desire to help others succeed.

One nominator said about Copling, 鈥淗e is the person colleagues turn to when a challenge seems unsolvable because time and again, he proves that with enough creativity and persistence, nothing is out of reach.鈥�

When accepting the award, Copling shared his gratitude for the team effort, within his team and other partners on campus. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 do this with you,鈥� he shared.

Phoenix Rising Award

Andrew Moffa was named the 2026 Phoenix Rising Award winner. The award is presented to one newer member of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 staff who has consistently displayed excellence in pursuit of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 mission with an engaged mind in inspired leadership and global citizenship.

Moffa is the assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. He was described as the 鈥渕entor people dream of having鈥� and someone who 鈥渃reates an environment where students feel valued and empowered鈥� in several roles he plays, including advising students in 黑料不打烊 101, mentoring members of the 黑料不打烊 Votes! Team and supporting students who work in the office.

One nominator shared that Moffa 鈥渆mbodies the essence of allyship: showing up consistently, listening deeply and helping students bring their goals and ideas to life.鈥� Students said he is 鈥渁n amazing support to any student he comes across鈥� and 鈥渁n open space for us.鈥�

Moffa expressed gratitude towards the Kernodle Center and the Division of Student Life, as well the students he works with. 鈥淚t comes back to the students that we work with,鈥� he shared. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 here, that鈥檚 why I love showing up to work 鈥� it wouldn鈥檛 be the same without them.鈥�

Phoenix Collaboration Award

The 2026 Phoenix Collaboration Award was presented to 黑料不打烊 Guided Reflection on Work Student Employment Mentoring Implementation Work Group, led by Alison Doherty, Jo-Rae Jennings, Emily Krechel, Noah Orr and Kameryn Taylor. 黑料不打烊GROW is a framework designed to help students connect what they鈥檙e learning in the classroom with the skills they are developing in their campus jobs. Through brief conversations with their supervisors, students reflect on how their work supports their academic, professional and personal growth.

The award is presented to an 黑料不打烊 staff team or group that has fostered cooperation, collaboration and open communication across two or more departments/offices/centers on campus.

A nominator said about the group, 鈥淭he team modeled the very competencies it seeks to cultivate in students: communication, teamwork, leadership, professionalism and adaptive thinking.鈥�

黑料不打烊GROW was designed to be the fabric of supervision and student employment university-wide. Due to the collaborative efforts, supervisors now have clearer expectations, stronger training and accessible tools to facilitate intentional developmental conversations, and student employees are more likely to recognize transferable skills, articulate growth and connect work to academics and future careers.

Emily Krechel, director of new student programs, addressed the audience with 黑料不打烊GROW members standing near the podium. As chair of the workgroup, she described the team as 鈥渢he most productive, efficient and collaborative people she has ever had the privilege of working with.鈥�

Phoenix Community Engagement Award

Tammy Hill, student health insurance and immunization compliance project manager, was named the 2026 Phoenix Community Engagement Award winner. The award recognizes a member of the 黑料不打烊 staff who has demonstrated exemplary service to the university, local or global community through their engagement in volunteer organizations.

Hill is a leader within the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and was described as someone who tirelessly contributes her time, expertise and energy to support cultural preservation, community engagement and organizational leadership.

Hill is profoundly dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of her tribal community鈥檚 history, culture and traditions. When she was 55, she pursued a degree in American history to deepen her understanding of Western expansion and the many successes of other tribes in the United States. She has served the OBSN as newsletter editor, a member of the Scholarship Committee and Tribal Secretary on the Tribal Council, and she is self-taught in the skills needed for her current role managing the tribal website, web store and trading post.

One nominator stated, 鈥淲hether supporting her tribal community, fostering cultural awareness or strengthening connections within the 黑料不打烊 community, she leads with humility, integrity and dedication. She demonstrates that service is not simply something she does 鈥� it is who she is.鈥�

Hill has been at 黑料不打烊 for more than two decades and leaves an indelible mark on students and colleagues alike who fondly reflect on her guidance, warmth and genuine care. She was not present at the ceremony and Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for Student Life/dean of Student Health & Well-Being/assistant professor, accepted on her behalf.

Blanche Garrison Memorial Award

Drema Holder was named the 2026 Blanche Garrison Memorial Award recipient. The award was established in memory of the late Blanche Garrison, an 黑料不打烊 Medallion awardee, who served the university with distinction as a staff member at Maynard House. This award was created through the generosity of President Emeritus Leo Lambert and Laurie Lambert and recognizes a staff member who has contributed significantly to shaping the student experience at 黑料不打烊 through their everyday commitments and actions to support, encourage and mentor 黑料不打烊 students.

Holder is the Moseley Center program assistant and was described as the epitome of graciousness and customer service, someone whose authentic kindheartedness, commitment and enthusiasm are vital to keeping her area of campus running effectively and making all who pass through its halls feel welcome.

One nominator shared that Holder 鈥渃ontinually puts others before herself, uplifting students and advocating for them to receive the recognition they deserve.鈥� Another nominator added, 鈥淚f Moseley is the heart of campus, then Drema is the heart of Moseley.鈥�

Holder shared that this is her 48th year in higher education and 鈥渁ll my students and all my coworkers have a special place in my heart.鈥�

Staff Member of the Year Awards

Three Staff Member of the Year Awards are presented annually to university non-teaching staff 鈥� one for each of the following categories: facilities management, professional hourly staff and administrative staff. 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book announced the award winners.

Staff Member of the Year 鈥撀燩rofessional Hourly

Sharon Holmes was honored as the 2026 professional hourly staff member of the year. Holmes is a program assistant in the Office of Alumni Engagement and described as someone who goes above and beyond to facilitate events, manage student workers and make alumni feel welcome.

Nominators shared that Holmes is a 鈥渕om away from home鈥� for student workers and a valued source of support and friendship for her colleagues.鈥� Another team member added, whatever the team needs, she will do without question and with the biggest smile you will ever see.鈥�

She was further described as 鈥渢he welcoming voice on the phone, the smiling face when alumni stop by her office and the helpful hand when students have questions.”

Upon receiving the award, Holmes shared that working at 黑料不打烊 is meaningful to her because she is from Alamance County. She expressed her appreciation to her team members, saying, 鈥淭hey are truly a pleasure to be around, to work with and to collaborate with. It鈥檚 a joy to support them.鈥�

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Administrative

Ross Wade was named the 2026 administrative staff member of the year. He is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 interim associate vice president for the Student Professional Development Center.

Wade was recognized for steering his department through a period of critical transition with 鈥渞emarkable grace transparency and intentionality.鈥� He is described as having thoughtful, future-focused leadership and lauded for restoring a sense of direction and vigor to the team and introduced policies that have substantially improved workflow efficiency.

One nominator stated that 鈥淗e leads by example 鈥� rolling up his sleeves, staying engaged and demonstrating through his own actions what dedication to this work actually looks like.鈥�

Wade expressed the challenges of stepping into a leadership role during a time of transition for SPDC. 鈥淚 stumble through it every single day with the grace and the help from the SPDC team,鈥� he shared. 鈥淭hank you so much for your patience, kindness and ideas.鈥�

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Facilities Management

Carol Pulliam received the facilities management staff member of the year award. She is the custodian for Sato Commons.

Nominators used an array of sentiments to describe why Pulliam is, as they describe, one of the most important members of her building鈥檚 team: exceptionally detail-oriented, proud of her work and orderly. 鈥淪he ensures every facet of the physical space reflects the excellence for which 黑料不打烊 is known,鈥� a nominator said.

Pulliam was not only recognized for her immaculate work, but also her willingness to submit FixIt requests and helping students set up research posters.

Another nominator shared that her genuine warmth truly sets her apart. 鈥淗er willingness to engage people on the floor in meaningful conversations helps make our floor more connected and caring.鈥�

Addressing her staff peers, she expressed, 鈥渢hank you, God, and thank you to all the people that made this possible 鈥撀營 love each and every one of you.鈥�