Alumni Award Nominations
Since 1959, the Pfeiffer Alumni Association has recognized the extraordinary contributions of alumni by presenting two annual awards to deserving individuals. In 2015, the Office of the President created the Presidential Merit Award to recognize young alumni. These awards are presented during the Annual Alumni Gathering at Homecoming.
We encourage all alumni to nominate those deserving of recognition. The submission deadline for award nominations is April 30th, each year. Click below to download nomination forms. Please note that individuals may only be nominated for one award per year. The Alumni Board of Directors reserves the right to determine which award category is most appropriate/applicable for nomination in the case of an alumnus being nominated for both Outstanding and Distinguished Awards.
- Distinguished Alumni Award Download here
- Outstanding Alumni Award Download here
- Presidential Merit Award Download here
Print and mail nomination forms to 黑料专区 Advancement Office, P.O. Box 960, Misenheimer, N.C. 28109, or email forms to advance@pfeiffer.edu.
2025 Alumni Award Recipients
Cathy Laws ’02 Named 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Dr. Cathy Benson Laws 鈥�02, DDS, the recipient of 黑料专区鈥檚 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, majored in Chemistry at Pfeiffer and later earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from West Virginia University鈥檚 School of Dentistry on a Health Professions Scholarship from the U.S. Army. After fulfilling her service commitment in Landstuhl, Germany, she is now making her mark, not only as a dentist but as a businesswoman.
In 2014, she purchased a practice in Lincolnton, N.C., where she was working as an associate dentist, and Carolina Dentistry and Dentures was born. The business has since become a thriving regional provider, having expanded to include six additional offices in as many North Carolina cities: Salisbury, Mint Hill, Albemarle, Asheboro, Greensboro, and Charlotte.
Awarded by the Alumni Association Board of Directors to honor excellence in one鈥檚 profession or community service.
Paul Childress ’93 Receives 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award
Paul Childress 鈥�93, the recipient of 黑料专区鈥檚 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award, enjoys an unusually strong bond with his alma mater 鈥� which he continues to strengthen by supporting the University in numerous ways.
He said that receiving the Award is a reflection of his recognition of Pfeiffer鈥檚 value in the community and the importance of continuing to support Pfeiffer as an important asset. Echoing the sentiments of many of Childress鈥� fellow Pfeiffer supporters, Scott Bullard, University President, said he has 鈥渂een a fantastic advocate for Pfeiffer and has worked tirelessly to help make community connections that are making a positive difference for the University.鈥�
Awarded by the Alumni Association Board of Directors to honor one鈥檚 significant contributions to 黑料专区.
Lindsey Russell ’15 Receives 2025 Presidential Merit Award
Lindsey Russell 鈥�15, the recipient of 黑料专区鈥檚 2025 Presidential Merit Award, has landed at the forefront of technology-driven changes in healthcare, having worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) for Atrium Health Primary Care Family Medicine Virtual since May 2024. She has joined a growing number of healthcare providers working virtually in family medicine 鈥� a trend sparked a few years ago by the COVID-19 pandemic. And she has no intention of leaving telehealth.
鈥淚 will remain in virtual primary care for as long as virtual primary care is a thing,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y colleagues and I work hard, but we have a really good time doing it.鈥�
Awarded by the President of 黑料专区 to alumni who are 35 years of age or younger, who have excelled early in their careers, and who show potential for continued success.
1962聽 聽Rev. Lloyd G. Lowder 鈥�42
1963聽 聽Dr. Garmon B. Smith 鈥�40
1964听听听Rev. Dr. William K. Quick 鈥�52, 鈥�72 (Hon.)
1965听听听Rev. Dr. Ernest A. Fitzgerald 鈥�43, 鈥�86 (Hon.)
1966聽 聽Edwin W. Woodhouse 鈥�58
1967聽 聽Rev. Herbert E. Blackmon 鈥�36
1967听听听Dr. Earl W. Vaughn 鈥�47, 鈥�83 (Hon.)
1968听听听Dr. Samuel H. Johnson 鈥�46, 鈥�94 (Hon.)
1969聽 聽J. Walt Braxton, Jr. 鈥�63
1970聽 聽Dr. Joseph A. Ross 鈥�48
1971聽 聽J. Keith Crisco, Sr. 鈥�64
1971聽 聽Rev. W. Kirk McNeill 鈥�59
1972聽 聽Dr. L. Gordon Clarke 鈥�44
1972聽 聽Dr. D. Larry Crumbley 鈥�63
1972聽 聽Dr. Maeburn B. Huneycutt 鈥�42
1972聽 聽Dr. H. Mitchell Simpson 鈥�64
1974聽 聽Rev. Fred Falls, Jr. 鈥�61
1974听听听Dr. Samuel H. Johnson 鈥�46, 鈥�94 (Hon.)
1974聽 聽Dr. Franklin D. Martin 鈥�66
1976聽 聽Joseph R. Kluttz, Jr. 鈥�60
1977 聽聽Dr. Thad Woodard 鈥�68
1978聽 聽J. Russell Helderman 鈥�27
1979聽聽 Dr. Edward B. Tyson 鈥�64
1980聽聽 Dr. R. Andrew Murphie 鈥�66
1982聽聽 Frank E. Watson,聽III 鈥�71
1983聽聽 Dr. Juanita Lee Long 鈥�46
1984聽聽 Dr. Lee W. Kinard, Jr. 鈥�50
1985聽聽 The Honorable Don Maddox 鈥�64
1987听听听Dr. Richard B. McKenzie 鈥�64, 鈥�01 (Hon.)
1988聽聽 M. Jane Williams 鈥�66
1991听听听Rev. Dr. William K. Quick 鈥�52, 鈥�72 (Hon.)
1992聽聽 Dr. Mary Nell Saunders 鈥�70
1993聽聽 Dr. Gerry D. Martin 鈥�63
1995聽聽 Dr. Wilbur S. Avant, Jr. 鈥�63
1997聽聽 Carl M. Hill 鈥�58
1997聽聽 Dr. Thad Woodard 鈥�68
1998聽聽 Henry E. Farmer, Sr. 鈥�60
1999聽聽 Dr. Monteic A. Sizer 鈥�93
2000听听听Rev. Dr. James B. Long, Jr. 鈥�63, 鈥�93 (Hon.)
2000听听听Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler 鈥�65, 鈥�12 (Hon.)
2001聽聽 Dr. Joseph D. Armstrong 鈥�82
2002聽聽 Herman A. Stone, Sr. 鈥�64
2006聽聽 Thomas M. Grady 鈥�63
2006聽聽 Betty Coates Mar 鈥�69
2007聽聽 Rev. Julianne Brittain 鈥�77
2007聽聽 Rev. Cecil E. Donahue 鈥�77
2007聽聽 Annabeal Waller Lefler 鈥�66
2008 聽聽James G. Griffith, Jr. 鈥�58
2009聽聽 E. Jack Ingram, Jr. 鈥�74
2009聽聽 Richard W. Thames 鈥�75
2010聽聽 Sharon K. Bard 鈥�79
2010聽聽 April Jones Havlin 鈥�76
2011聽聽 Kevin G. DeSanctis 鈥�74
2011聽聽 Harold M. Eagle, Jr. 鈥�63
2011聽聽 Mary Earnhardt Eagle 鈥�64
2012聽聽 Thomas D. Lewis 鈥�68
2013聽聽 Dr. Samuel J. Chewning 鈥�08
2013聽聽 W. Craig Estep 鈥�83
2013聽聽 Dr. Russell H. Sharples 鈥�75
2014聽聽 John K. Boggs 鈥�75
2014聽聽 Albert L. Rose 鈥�63
2015聽聽 P. Duane Dunston 鈥�97, 鈥�99 MSOM
2015聽聽 David B. Miller 鈥�04
2016聽聽 Rev. H. David Melton 鈥�76
2016聽聽 George E.J. Singleton 鈥�68
2017聽聽 Dawn Harwood Allen 鈥�81
2017聽聽 Alejandra Buchanan Miller 鈥�03
2017聽聽 Dr. Marissa Shuffler Porter 鈥�04
2018聽聽 Ashley Zeek McMichael 鈥�12
2018聽聽 R. Lawrence Monaghan, Jr. 鈥�68
2018聽聽 Dr. Margaret Earley Whitt 鈥�68
2019聽聽 Brittany Cox Hudson 鈥�13
2019聽聽 Frank W. Lea, III 鈥�68
2019聽聽 Gary R. Weart 鈥�71
2020聽聽 Dr. David W. Barham 鈥�11
2020聽聽 Dr. D. Matthew Gianferante 鈥�05
2020聽聽 Barry L. Roberson 鈥�80
2021聽聽 Robert C. Gulledge 鈥�68
2021聽聽 Dr. Reggie L. Hudson 鈥�74
2021聽聽 Christopher A. Matthews 鈥�12 MSL, 鈥�16 MFT
2022聽聽 Robert J. Brietz 鈥�65
2022聽聽 Heidi Honecker Grant 鈥�87
2022聽聽 Jimmy D. Molina 鈥�16, 鈥�19 MBA, 鈥�19 MSL
2023聽 聽Dr. Wayne T. Davis 鈥�70
2023聽 聽Charles R. Ingram 鈥�11, 鈥�14 MBA
2023聽 聽David M. Smith 鈥�70
2024聽 聽Dr. Katherine A. Collins 鈥�15
2024聽 聽Kathleen E. Kennedy 鈥�74
2024聽 聽Rev. Joy Thornburg Melton 鈥�77