UWF hosts first virtual Spirit of UWF Awards ceremony
The University of West Florida hosted the first ever virtual 2020 Spirit of UWF Alumni and Community Awards ceremony on Oct. 24. The annual awards presentation was an online streaming event, featuring a compilation of videos from presenters and awards recipients sharing notable work done by UWF staff, faculty, students, alumni and community members.
“As we navigate these challenging times, we continue to see UWF alumni and our community partners rise to the challenge and do extraordinary things,” said Howard J. Reddy, vice president for University Advancement. “These award recipients make our growth and their communities’ growth possible. They are change makers, and we are proud of the invaluable impact they make.”
The Alumni Awards recognize those who excel in representing the UWF Alumni Association, the University, their respective communities and the more than 90,000 UWF alumni worldwide. Those eligible for nomination included UWF alumni, friends, faculty and staff.
The following alumni were named recipients of the Alumni Awards:
Outstanding Young Alumni
Jenny Ford ‘10
Michael Krueger ‘16 & ‘19
Melissa Pappas ’15
Dr. Vanessa Phillips ‘06, ‘09 & ‘14
Sigrid Solgard ‘15
Distinguished Alumni
Terry Berling ‘70
Dr. Diane Kelley ‘78, ‘91, ‘94 & ‘97
Olevia McNally ‘07 & ‘10
Dr. Benjamin Stubbs ‘02
Chambered Nautilus of Merit
Dr. Usha Kundu and Mr. Mahadeb Kundu
The Spirit of UWF Community Awards celebrate and strengthen collaborations between the University and the communities that UWF serves. Those eligible for nomination include businesses, organizations, agencies and individuals, along with UWF administrators, staff, faculty and students.
The following people or organizations were named recipients of the Spirit of UWF Awards:
- Research and Scholarship—C.A. Weis Community Partnership School
- Workforce and Career Development—Dee Swanson, Enterprise Holdings
- Public Service and Education—Studer Community Institute
- Quality of Life—Robin Foley, Pensacola’s Rec Plex North parkrun/walk
- Community Engagement Educator—Dr. Hedi Salanki Rubardt
- Community Impact—Carson Wilber
- Community Innovation—Thomas Asmuth
For more information about the Spirit of UWF and Alumni Awards, visit uwf.edu/SpiritOfUWF. To watch the 2020 Spirit of UWF Awards ceremony recording, visit www.alumlc.org/uwf/archive.