DANVILLE, Va. – Yesterday during Averett University’s 2019 Homecoming festivities, the University honored six alumni with Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards and induct five alumni into the Athletics Hall of Fame in a special ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Pritchett Auditorium in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center (150 Mountain View Ave.). Also at the ceremony, the class of 1969 will be honored as the 50th reunion class, and the 25th reunion class of 1994 will be pinned. The University invites all friends and family who know the award recipients and the community to join in the celebration.

Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards

The Recent Alumnus Award is presented to an alumnus that has graduated in fewer than ten years. Jada Little ’16, is the director of operations at the Delaware Foundation Reaching Citizens with intellectual disABILITIES. While at Averett, she served a year-long term as a Young Alumni Trustee. She is a member of Lambda Pi Eta and Sigma Alpha Pi. Little earned the Recent Alumnus Award for her volunteerism and dedication to improve the lives of Delawareans with intellectual disabilities.

Two Alumni are being honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Dr. Stephanie Lowe Ellis ’01, is the executive director of behavioral health, crisis intervention, and student safety for Rockingham County Schools in North Carolina. She completed her doctorate in December 2018 at High Point University. Ellis is receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award for her dedication to the welfare of students and for her work building and improving mental health services for students throughout her district. Nic Sturdifen ’07, ’10, is the owner/president of Life Push, LLC. He is a former member of the Averett Alumni Board. Sturdifen is receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his work in the community and helping K-12 students, college students and transitioning adults overcome the obstacles prohibiting them from reaching their highest levels of success.

Margaret Lewis ’96 is the recipient of the Fugate Davis Women’s Leadership Award, which is presented to an alumna or community leader that exemplifies leadership, community and responsibility. Lewis is a former Averett Trustee and is the former president of HCA’s Capital Division. Her responsibilities included 17 hospitals in Virginia, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Indiana.

The Frank Campbell Service Award is presented in memory of the former president of Averett. Jennifer Hoge Williams ’90, has taught children in many arenas for almost 29 years. Her passion is giving children access to books they enjoy reading and fostering in them a love of reading. She began a non-profit organization named Joy of Reading – Danville through which she has given away 13,500 books in the Danville region. Williams is receiving the Frank Campbell Service Award for her commitment to children and introducing them to the joy of reading.

The Mary Jo Davis Lifetime Service Award is presented in memory of the former staff member and community leader with an unwavering long term commitment to Averett. Susan Slade Hudgins ’69, is involved with the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC) where she served on the board for many years. SPARC is one of the nation’s most comprehensive, community-based youth performing arts education organizations. She has also hosted several Averett events in Richmond including the rebirth of the Averett Ladies Tea. Hudgins is receiving the Mary Jo Davis Lifetime Service Award for her life-long commitment to Averett.

“We are so proud of our alumni, especially these six who were nominated by their peers,” said Dan Hayes, director of alumni relations. “It is so interesting that even though they were nominated for a multitude reasons, all have demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the lives of others.”

Averett Athletics Hall of Fame

Scott Swann, ’06, a Bachelor of Science in aviation graduate, flies the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter for the United States Coast Guard in Mobile, Ala. He’s also an instructor pilot for the aviation training school, so he qualifies new pilots so they can fly the same helicopter. He lives in Mobile with his wife and three children.

Tapio Martti ’87, a Bachelor of Science in business and marketing graduate, works as a sales and business development manager for North America in the textile industry. He still enjoys tennis and competes in local and state-level USTA events. He and his family live in Greensboro, N.C.

Brad Hartman ’09, ’13, a Bachelor of Science in physical education and MBA graduate, works for Infinity Global as an account coordinator. He is married to Amanda and they have a son Noah, daughter Emma and one on the way. They live in Danville, Va.

Paige Aaron Echols ’13, a Bachelor of Science in mathematics with teaching licensure and a minor in history graduate, teaches mathematics at Chatham High School and previously coached the varsity volleyball team. She is married to Dustin and they have two sons, Creed and Cade. She and her family live in Ringgold, Va.

Allison Sparks Williams ’14, a Bachelor of Science in elementary education graduate, teaches third grade at Brosville Elementary School. She is married to Tyler Williams and they reside in Eden, N.C. In her spare time she enjoys attending church and crafting.