January 2018: Ben Baker '06
We’d like to congratulate Concord alum Ben Baker (’06) and his company, The Lake Norman Screenprinting Factory, on closing one million dollars in business during 2017! This is the factory that prints our Alumni shirts we give to new graduates. We certainly aren’t the only ones who recognize the quality. Congratulations! Read more here.
February 2018: Dr. Brad Lane (’02)
Join us in congratulating Concord alumnus Dr. Brad Lane (’02). Dr. Lane was recently recognized by the West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians as their Optometrist of the Year! They had no trouble “seeing” just how great this Mountain Lion was at the profession! Read more about Dr. Lane and his award Here.
March 2018: Aaron Nicholas Brakefield '04
Recognize anyone while you and over 103 million people were watching the Super Bowl this year? Viewers were treated with Concord University alum Aaron Nicholas Brakefield grabbing snacks and playing his best air guitar in the Sheetz advertisement at halftime! Check the spot out Here.
April 2018: Tim Carrico ’17, Valerie Sullivan ’99, Larry Marrs ’03
A hearty congrats to not one, not two, but THREE Concord alumni from WVNS-TV who took home awards from the West Virginia Broadcasters Association! Valerie Sullivan (’99) won for ‘Best Locally Produced Television Show’, Larry Marrs (’03) for ‘Best Coverage of Breaking News’, and Tim Carrico (’17) for ‘Best TV Creative’. You can watch this crew’s work every day on 59 News all across southern West Virginia and online at wvnstv.com
June 2018: Brian Allen '90, '13
Brian Allen '90, '13, Continuity Director at WJLS in Beckley, was awarded "Best Creative" in the radio category at the 2018 West Virginia Broadcasters Association annual awards ceremony in Morgantown, WV. Allen joined West Virginia Broadcasting - Raleigh County, in 2016. He writes copy, produces commercials and schedules their air time. He's also done some creative voice work and announcing for "99.5 The Big Dawg." Allen submitted the commercial he created for a local client last fall. "I was really excited about it," said Allen. "In this case, it was just the right opportunity and of course the voice people really helped the spot. It's always a team effort but it always feels good that you get to put it together." Award entries were judged out-of-state by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters. This was the 15th year for the award show, which alternates between Morgantown and Charleston every spring.
May 2018: Kevin Powell '89
Concord University alum Kevin Powell has been nationally recognized as the BEST seller of Suzuki motorcycles in the United States among other accolades! Here are the stats:
Kevin Powell of Kevin Powell Motorsports in Charlotte, NC was just recognized as the #1 selling volume dealer in the country for Suzuki motorcycles.
Kevin Powell’s Foothill Ford in Pilot Mountain, NC was also recently recognized as the #1 selling volume dealer in its zone for Ford Motor Company.
Kevin Powell’s Automotive and Powersports Group operates six locations throughout Central North Carolina, representing 11 different manufacture franchises. They specialize in finding solutions to help customers get approved for a nicer, newer car or motorcycle of their dreams, retailing over 4,000 units per year!
You can check out the website here!
July 2018: Christy Laxton ’04 and Justin Marlowe ‘01
Congratulations to Concord alumni Christy Laxton and Justin Marlowe on both being named to the Generation Next: 40 Under 40 Class of 2018! The
class was announced earlier this year at an event in Charleston and includes West Virginians from all over the state with backgrounds in fields including law, education and fundraising. To check out the entire class list please click here.
Concord University is proud to have these two outstanding alumni recognized for their contributions to our great state!
August 2018: Richard Jarrell ‘84
Congratulations to alum Richard Jarrell ’84 on being awarded his third Chick-fil-A restaurant, set to open off of Harper Road in Beckley later this year. Jarrell is one of only 19 operators in the national chain to be awarded three restaurants.
To read more about Jarrell’s accomplishment please click here!
We wish Richard much success as he expands his business!
September 2018: Herbert Wheeler ‘65
Last month Concord alum Herbert Wheeler ‘65 was inducted into the West Virginia Wall of Valor. The Wall of Valor award was created to recognize extraordinary pilots with military experience. Wheeler is only the second individual to be inducted into the aviation Wall of Valor.
To read more about Wheeler and his experiences click here!
Congratulations to Mr. Wheeler on such a distinguished honor!
October 2018: Sherry East ‘91
Congratulations to Concord alum Sherry East ’91 on being named the President of the South Carolina Education Association! Sherry is a high school science teacher at the Phoenix Academy in Rock Hill, SC and has served in other leadership roles within the SCEA and the York County Education Association. Sherry has a M.S. in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University and has completed an additional 30+ graduate credits from Clemson University. She will serve a 4 year term as the SCEA President.
November 2018: Paige Hunter ‘84
Congratulations to Brigadier General Paige Hunter ’84 on being chosen by the Charleston YWCA as one of its five honorees for their Women of Achievement awards!
Brigadier General Paige Hunter is the Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard and has been honored with many awards for her service. Some of them include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and the Air Force Achievement Medal.
Hunter will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Charleston in March.
December 2018: Nick Bias ‘06
Congratulations to Nick Bias ’06 on being named the NCAA DII Men’s Cross Country Atlantic Region Coach of the Year! The USTFCCCA made the announcement in late November after Bias led his team at the University of Charleston through a historic season. His team won the Mountain East Conference and NCAA DII Atlantic Region championships this fall and is competing in the NCAA DII National Cross Country Championships in early December. Bias was also named the 2018 MEC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year by his coaching peers in the Mountain East.
Many congrats to Nick on an outstanding season and best of luck at the national championships!