Carolina Alumni Review - January/February 2009

ABA’s 2009 National Diversity Summit, Wynn has been lauded repeatedly by professional organizations for his extracurricular service.

As a student, he rushed through his undergraduate degree in three years, taking time to write for The Black Ink, before immediately starting his law degree at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Later, he earned a master’s degree in law from the University of Virginia. And through it all, he’s been active in the Navy Reserve. He’ll retire from the Navy once he reaches his 30-year milestone this year.

Ashby said she came by her teaching gifts honestly — both of her parents were teachers, “and I still call my mom to ask her grammar questions.”

The Gordon and Bowman Gray Distinguished Term Professor of chemistry, Ashby has received many teaching honors over the years. She remains a popular teacher, even though she sets the bar high for her students. Beyond the academics, she teaches students how to thrive, even when their achievements fall short of their goals. She is known for pushing her students until they find where their talents lie.

The former director of undergraduate studies, Ashby serves as director of the Summer Pre-Graduate Research Experience that encourages minorities to pursue doctorates. She is a member of the

faculty executive committee and the faculty council.

“Many people here have shown me how to live a good life,” she said. “It’s hard not to be inspired to teach when I’ve been mentored by the wonderful people here.”

Archie Ervin ’ 99 (PhD) introduced Knowling and acknowledged her energy and skill, saying she “made the 40th anniversary of the Black Student Movement last year happen.”

Knowling, an exercise and sports science major, has had a hand in many of the programs that benefit students and alumni. As director of the Tar Heel Kids and Teen Camps, she hired and trained counselors, developed a budget, planned schedules and communicated with counselors, campers, parents and the GAA. She improved the training tutorial for the Memorial Hall box office staff and served as a summer intern for the Service Over Self youth volunteer program in South Carolina.

Having lost her mother in high school, Knowling thanked her family for “making me who I am.” Then she thanked the alumni for “paving the road.”

“You can be proud of the soon-to-be alumni,” she promised.

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ONLINE: To see a list of past Beech Award winners, visit alumni.unc.edu/awards.

PHOTOS BY ALBEE INCLE

President-elect Barack Obama wasn’t there in person, but he was represented in spirit at the Black Alumni Reunion. The event, coming this year just days after the election, celebrates the achievements of African-Americans, and alumni came wearing fashions and showing off other memorabilia to mark the historic occasion.