2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Proudly recognizing the achievements of alumni and beyond
Our extraordinary alumni exemplify our “Think and Do” mindset.
Every year during Red and White Week, the NC State Alumni Association honors the alumni whose successes increase the value of an NC State degree and add to the university’s growing legacy of excellence, impact and service.
Alumni Achievement Awards
Honorary Alumnus/a
The Alumni Association awards the designation of “Honorary Alumnus/a” to someone whose loyalty and devotion to NC State are demonstrated through their faithful participation in the life of the university.
Meritorious Service Award
This award honors an NC State graduate who has made outstanding contributions to the university, in their profession and community.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
This award honors an NC State graduate within the last ten years who has made outstanding contributions to the university, in their profession and community.
2024 Alumni Award Recipients
Chancellor Woodson and Mrs. Woodson | Honorary Alumni
In honor of Chancellor Randy Woodson’s 14 years of service to the university, the Chancellor and Mrs. Woodson were recognized as honorary alumni. The Woodsons created a legacy of leadership that will leave an indelible mark on the history of NC State, and their impact will be felt for generations to come.
Christopher Bailey M.S. ’16 | Outstanding Young Alumni
Alumni Association
“Christopher Bailey embodies the core values of NC State University, including excellence, leadership and service,” said Molly Andrews, Assistant Director of Philanthropy with the NC State College of Engineering.
Arielle Chambers ‘14 | Outstanding Young Alumna Award
Alumni Association
“Ari is immediately recognizable as someone who is full of energy and enthusiasm,” said Erin Kane, vice president of Women’s Sports at Excel Sports Management. “The qualities that made her an amazing cheerleader at NC State – her warmth, determination and encouragement of others – make her an incredible influencer, journalist and all-around cheerleader for women’s sports.”
Allin Foulkrod ’92 | Meritorious Service Award
Alumni Association
“Allin is an industry leader and an award-winning strategic event producer who has poured countless hours into elevating special events at NC State,” said Ellen Klingler, assistant vice chancellor for University Special Events and Experiences.
Dallas Barnes ’78 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dallas Barnes was raised in Severn, North Carolina, by Mutt and Prince Barnes, with two sisters, Nancy Barnes and Paige B. Pinnix. Barnes attended NC State and graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy.
Giles Shih ’93 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dr. Giles Shih is the founder and strategic advisor of Big Ripple Innovations, a consulting firm helping entrepreneurs achieve success across a range of industries and states. Giles served as Chairman and CEO of BioResource International (BRI), an RTP-based agricultural biotechnology company that he and his father Dr. Jason Shih, spun out of NC State University, grew for 25 years and successfully sold to Novus International, Inc. in February of 2024.
Matthew J. Checkowski ’98 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Design
Matt Checkowski’s work explores the intersections of design, narrative and technology, working across boundaries to elevate and expand storytelling.
Bob Blankenship ’60 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Education
Bob Blankenship played an instrumental role in securing the funding for and establishing the current Museum of the Cherokee People and has served as its president for nearly 50 years. The institution preserves the history, culture and stories of the tribe.
Tony McLean Brown ’83 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Engineering
Tony McLean Brown is the Director of Strategic Investments at Public Consulting Group, Inc. (PCG). Mr. Brown has held several senior leadership positions since joining PCG in 1990 that contribute to corporate functions and business lines. Tony has more than 35 years of project experience in public sector information technology (IT), which includes management consulting, systems integration, and operations related to the healthcare, social care, and education industries.
Tracy B. Doaks ’95 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Engineering
Tracy Doaks is the president & CEO of MCNC, the technology nonprofit focused on delivering high-performance protected internet and networking, cloud services, cybersecurity and other essential technologies for communities throughout North Carolina. She previously served as the state chief information officer and secretary for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and held executive-level positions at Duke Medicine and the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
Dr. Lane Ross Miller ’88 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Engineering
Dr. Lane Miller joined LORD in May 1979 as an entry-level research engineer and was promoted to Research Manager, Active Systems in 1986. After holding various roles, in 2007, Lane was promoted to Vice President of global Technology and an Officer for all of LORD Corporation. This position included leading more than 300 engineers, scientists, and technicians that supported the company’s $1 billion business in adhesives, coatings, sensing, vibration attenuation, and motion control. Dr. Lane is an inventor on more than 15 patents for LORD active vibration control, takes even more pride in the hundreds of brilliant engineers that he hired who made this revolutionary technology a reality. Dr. Lane retired from LORD in 2017 and currently serves on the department’s advisory board.
Dr. Wilma Peebles-Wilkins ’67 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr. Wilma Peebles-Wilkins’ connection to her alma mater started when she was a young girl growing up in the Oberlin Village area of Raleigh during the civil rights movement. In time, she became one of the first Black women to graduate from the college with a sociology degree and a minor in social work.
She also returned as a social work professor, administrator and donor. She established The Myatt-Peebles Scholarship Endowment for Social Work, guaranteeing her connection to her alma mater would be a lasting one.
Over the years, Peebles-Wilkins also earned a master’s degree in social administration and a Ph.D. in educational history and philosophy. Additionally, she amassed 50-plus years of experience as a social worker, administrator, educator, and advocate for health care and services to families and children. As such, the former Dean Emerita of Boston University School of Social Work attracted titles like pioneer and trailblazer and myriad honors, including the 1988-89 Outstanding Teacher Award from NC State.
Hal Lawton ’96 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Natural Resources
Hal Lawton, who graduated with dual degrees in pulp and paper science technology and chemical engineering in 1996, has served as president and chief executive officer of Tractor Supply Company since January 2020 and is a member of the company’s board of directors.
Dr. R. David Britt ’78 | Distinguished Alumni Award
College of Sciences
Dr. David Britt is a leading expert and is known for his innovative work in advancing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for the study of inorganic complexes and
metalloenzymes, including open-source software for simulating EPR spectra of the studied systems. His expertise and contributions have established him as a leading figure in bioinorganic chemistry. He has earned numerous accolades and awards recognizing his contributions to the chemistry field, including the Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and the Gold Medal from the International EPR Society.
Mary B. Fedewa ’91 | Distinguished Alumni Award
Poole College of Management
Mary Fedewa is the President, Chief Executive Officer, Director, and Co-Founder at Store Capital, a leader in real estate capital solutions.
Sherry McCraw ’90 | Distinguished Alumni Award
Wilson College of Textiles
Sherry McCraw has 30 years of leadership experience in engineering, planning, and manufacturing at BMW. She began her career with the company in 1993 with responsibilities for the facility’s import car processing operation. Over the next eight years, she played a crucial role in various aspects of assembly production, planning, engineering, and technology steering. She was selected to supervise start-up planning for the second generation BMW X5 in Munich, Germany, and returned and managed the Spartanburg plant’s 1.2 million square foot expansion. In 2013, McCraw was named the company’s chief financial officer and vice president of finance. In 2017, she was appointed to lead both production halls as vice president of assembly. Today, she serves as vice president of human resources at BMW Manufacturing. She proudly supports her alma mater, the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State, by serving on the North Carolina Textile Foundation’s Board of Directors.