The UM National 校友 Association celebrated the recipients of its 2024 首页coming awards on Feb. 16 at its 首页coming awards dinner and annual business meeting in Anna Irvin Dining Hall.
吉姆凡 ’76 received the Distinguished 校友 Award, which is the UMNAA’s highest annual honor. Dr. 伊丽莎白·加塞尔·珀金斯 ’04 received the Nathalie Molton Gibbons 校友 Achievement Award, which is given annually to an alum over 35 whose career and community contributions have reflected positively at the local, 国家级或国家级. 马修·纳尔逊 ’11 received the Nathalie Molton Gibbons Young Achiever’s Award, which is given annually to an alum age 35 or younger based on the same criteria as the 校友 Achievement Award.
吉姆凡
范恩是总裁, 阿拉巴马州大成律师事务所董事会成员和股东, where he is a member and former chair of the Dentons Sirote Real Estate practice group. 在他的实践中, the Birmingham native represents banks and other lenders in connection with all types of lending, 包括工商贷款以及房地产贷款.
获颁杰出校友奖, 范恩感谢了他的家人和朋友, 并注意到他是如何在琼斯博士的指导下找到法律职业的. Sarah Posey Morgan, who taught business law and other law-related courses at UM.
“That is the power of a professor making a connection to a specific student,” Vann said. “这些都是发生在我们大学的事情. 教职员工为我做了特别有效的准备工作. 我真的很惭愧.”
After graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from UM, Vann practiced as a Certified Public Accountant at the firm formerly known as 恩斯特 & 恩斯特. In 1981, he graduated magna cum laude from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and began his legal practice at various local law firms, where he became known as one of the top banking and commercial real estate attorneys in the Birmingham area.
“Jim has a servant’s heart and has spent his whole career in service to others, 同时保持非常谦虚的态度,76届提名者柯克·莱特富特说, Vann’s fraternity brother and 2002 recipient of the Distinguished 校友 Award. “他以其令人印象深刻的职业生涯脱颖而出, but he has also distinguished the 澳门在线赌城娱乐 as a loyal and generous son and respected alum.”
During his time as a student, Vann was a University cheerleader and president of Delta Chi. 他和他的妻子Robyn在UM相识，已经结婚46年了. 他们有两个孩子，杰斯和娜塔莉，还有五个孙子孙女.
Dr. 伊丽莎白·加塞尔·珀金斯
珀金斯是圣何塞大学的校长兼首席学术官. 密苏里州弗洛里森特山谷的路易斯社区学院. 2016年担任该职位后不久, she began leading the dual credit/enrollment partnerships area and expanded the program, 现在包括了圣. 路易地区. 蓬勃发展的计划, 它曾经为数百名学生提供服务, 增长了130%，现在服务数千人.
Perkins earned a Bachelor of 艺术 in English with a minor in pre-law from UM in 2004 and went on to earn a Master of 艺术 in English from UM in 2005. 在校园, she served as Student Government Association president and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, δ, Sigma Tau Delta等等.
Perkins got her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and 政府 with a concentration in higher education from Valdosta State University in 2015. 她的学术生涯始于在澳大担任英语兼职讲师.
“我非常幸运，”她说. “I truly believe we are a product of the people who come through our lives. 从这里的学生开始, 然后作为一名兼职教员，在我的职业生涯中, I believe I’ve had the opportunity to work with the greatest people in the world — the students, 教职员工.”
2004年的提名者Kay Butts-Pruett这样评价珀金斯, “To say that she has led an impactful and meaningful life is a drastic understatement. 她对所有人的爱和包容都是真诚的, 哪一点在她的职业生涯中脱颖而出, 慈善和个人生活. 我会说她有一颗金子般的心, 但这会直接与她是一个骄傲的紫族的事实相冲突.”
帕金斯住在圣. 路易斯和她的丈夫布莱恩，还有他们的女儿奥蕾莉亚.
马修·纳尔逊
Starting as an operations specialist at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), Nelson’s knowledge and determination allowed him to advance quickly and eventually become vice president of facilities at the Birmingham Airport Authority.
他的妻子也加入了, 爱丽儿, 他们的女儿, 奥利维亚, 他的父母和其他家人, 出席颁奖晚宴的朋友和同事, 纳尔逊对他们的支持表示感谢.
“这个奖项不是对我个人努力的肯定, but a testament to the unwavering support and encouragement I’ve received from my mentors, 同事, 朋友和家人,尼尔森说. “Their guidance and belief in me have propelled me forward and shaped me into the man I am today.”
Nelson graduated from UM with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in health promotion. 作为一名学生，他是男子篮球队的成员. 他于2012年在BHM开始了他的职业生涯, 他在运营部门工作了八年. 2020年10月，他成为BAA的设施经理. His success in this position led Nelson to BAA’s executive staff; he was appointed vice president of facilities in February 2021. 在这个角色中, 他的职责包括管理设施部门, planning and directing the work of custodial and maintenance personnel and ensuring efficient maintenance for the airport, 包括所有机场拥有的财产.
“马修是伯明翰商界领袖的独特代表,2011年的提名人达琳·威尔逊说, BAA董事会副主席. “His dedicated work ethic and commitment to continuous improvement and success of operations is important to our growth and relates directly to intentional passenger and team satisfaction.”
在颁发这些奖项之后, UMNAA举行了年度商务会议, where outgoing UMNAA President Stephanie Baugh Shaw ’93 installed Eddie Baker III ’04 as president.
UMNAA还任命了新的官员和董事, 批准了对UMNAA章程的修订, recognized its retiring members and honored the Vintage Purples 校友 Club with the Volunteer Service Award.