2009 Alumni Awards Program & Celebration

UWF National Alumni Association Presents Annual Awards
The University of West Florida National Alumni Association named its 2009 alumni award winners during the Annual Awards Program and Celebration held April 4 during Festival on the Green. The awards are given each year in recognition of those who work to help and promote the university, the alumni association and the more than 61,000 UWF alumni. Mollye Barrows, ’96, BA Communication Arts served as the program’s emcee. This year's award recipients are as follows:

Honorary Alumnus: presented for significant contributions to The University of West Florida in the areas of administration, academics, student relations, or university advancement. These may be in the areas of teaching, community service, volunteer leadership, financial support or other such areas having a direct impact on The University of West Florida and a positive influence on The University of West Florida National Alumni Association.
     Bill Healey has served UWF for over 35 years. During his time at UWF he has been     instrumental in the development of the Aquatic Center, lighted Intramural fields,     multi-venue sports complex, and the 108,000 square foot Health, Leisure, and Sports     Facility. Healey has mentored innumerable students and staff during his tenure and     will be deeply missed upon his retirement in May 2009.
     Dr. Dean Van Galen has been Vice President of University Advancement for six     years overseeing Alumni Relations, Development, the UWF Foundation, and Marketing     Communications. He led the visioning and development of the ARGO scholars program     and the Johnson Scholarship Foundation partnership. In addition Van Galen provided     leadership for the largest comprehensive campaign in the history of UWF raising over     $35 million and has been instrumental in the planning of the John H. Fetterman     Maritime Museum.

Outstanding Young Alumnus: presented for making significant contributions to their field of endeavor and/or displayed outstanding community service early on in their career. The candidate will have developed imaginative methods and programs, displayed leadership and development of leadership in others, and will have established strong professional relationships. Primary evaluation of accomplishments should highlight contributions of recent years (nominee must be 39 years old or younger at time of nomination).
     Kelly Addington, ’98 BA Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. Addington travels the     country as a partner in a consulting firm talking to college students about the     dangers of date rape, has received numerous accolades, and appeared on Dateline     and The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.
     Mollye Barrows, ’96 BA Communication Arts. Barrows works as a news anchor and     reporter for Pensacola’s WEAR ABC 3, covering stories that have garnered national     attention including the King brothers, major hurricanes, and the Jesse Arborgast     shark attack incident.
     Charlene Mauro, ’97 BS Marine Biology, ’00 MEd Curriculum & Instruction. Mauro     serves as the Science Department Chair for Navarre High School. She has been     honored as Teacher of the Year in Santa Rosa County, Florida’s High School Science     Teacher of the Year, and a finalist for Florida’s Teacher of the Year.

Distinguished Alumnus: presented for significant achievements and/or leadership demonstrated by the recipient in his or her chosen field of interest or career. This achievement may include personal and/or professional endeavors and accomplishments, and recognition is not determined by service rendered to The University of West Florida or to the Alumni Association.
     Nathan Botts, ’73 BA Accounting. Botts has contributed to his profession by     serving on the American Istitute of Certified Public Accountants Depository     Institution Expert Panel, PKF North American Network Financial Institution Committee     and has written several publications in his field.
     Terry Conner, ’73 BS Systems Science. Conner is retired from working as the Chief     Information Officer of Liberty Mutual Insurance where he had responsibility for     information technology services for their 900 offices and 37,000 employees     worldwide.
     Nick DeVillo, ’94 BS Physics. DeVillo is a NASA Engineer at Marshall Space Flight     Center in Alabama. DeVillo was appointed by George W. Bush as the first technical     advisor to the NASA Inspector General and received an award from the President’s     Council on Integrity and Efficiency. Additionally, DeVillo was the lead government     engineer on the experimental V-22 Osprey aircraft.
     Christopher McFarland, ’04 BS Vocational Education, ’05 MEd Curriculum &     Instruction. McFarland is the School Choice Coordinator for the Escambia County     School District in Pensacola, serves as President of Escambia Association for Career     and Technical Education, and is a Board Member for Florida Business Professionals of     America.
    Tim Mosteferis, ’84 BS Management. Mosteferis is recognized as the only know     quadriplegic bassist in the world. He has supported stem cell research education and     participated in a DVD documentary featuring the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, the     National Center for Regenerative Medicine, and the Shepard Center of Atlanta.

Chambered Nautilus Award of Merit: presented for significant contributions, sustained leadership, and service to The University of West Florida in the areas of academics, administration, student relations, or university advancement. Significant contributions may include that of time, money, professional leadership and expertise, or other areas having a direct and positive influence on The University of West Florida.
     Bill and Ann Hunt over the past 14 years have supported a variety of programs at     UWF providing leadership gifts in the renovation of a building, establishing an     endowed scholarship for building construction students, and naming a conference     room in support of the building construction program. Mr. Hunt also serves on the     building construction advisory group and he and Mrs. Hunt are members of the     Chambered Nautilus Society, recognizing donors contributing over $100,000 to     UWF in their lifetime.

Pictured L-R: Barrows, DeVillo, Mauro, Botts, Addington, McFarland,
Ann & Bill Hunt, Conner (2009 Award Recipients)