EBAN celebrates 20 years, bestows awards during Homecoming

Close to 150 people gathered in McKinnon Hall Saturday morning to celebrate the Elon Black Alumni Network’s 20th anniversary and honor the recipients of the 2016 EBAN Awards: Randolph “Randy” Williams, Jr., Dorian Wanzer ’09, Eugene Daniel ’11, Kim Bush-Mack ’87 and Ira “Ike” Credle ’83.

During the anniversary brunch, which saw the largest attendance of EBAN alumni to date, past EBAN presidents were also recognized for their unwavering dedication and vision that has shaped the organization for the past 20 years: Priscilla Awkard ’95, Steve Walker ’93, Mike Duggins ’92, Tracey Helton Lewis ’93 and Renita Leak Webb ’04. “Thank you for your passion for the Elon Black Alumni scholarship endowment,” Eden Esters Brown ’07 said. “Thank you for your tireless work and selflessness. Thank you for the love you’ve shown to your EBAN family.”

The event also celebrated the milestone anniversaries of several black organizations that have made substantial contributions to the Elon community:

• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.—Omicron Iota Chapter (35th Reunion)
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.—Nu Theta Chapter (30th Reunion)
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.—Sigma Delta Chapter (25th Reunion)

Originally named the African American Alumni Group, EBAN has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. Its purpose is to build, maintain and sustain collaborative relationships with black alumni through social events, networking and philanthropic purposes impacting current and future Elon students. Nine years ago, the EBAN Scholarship was created and endowed by the contributions of alumni, friends, corporations, faculty and staff who saw value in the vision of the scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student who demonstrates both high scholastic achievement and financial need. This past year, EBAN awarded a $7,900 scholarship to Contia Prince ’18, who was honored during the Saturday event.

Since 2010, EBAN has honored alumni, faculty and staff with the EBAN awards for their contributions to their communities and dedication to the network. This year’s honorees included:

Randolph “Randy” Williams, Jr.
K. Wilhelmina Boyd Outstanding Service to Students Award

A native of Brunswick County, Virginia, Randy is the associate vice president for campus engagement at Elon University. Prior to coming to Elon, Randy served as vice president for student affairs and dean of students at North Carolina Wesleyan College, assistant dean of students at The College of William & Mary and associate dean of students at Hampden-Sydney College. He holds a degree in physics from Hampden-Sydney College, a master’s degree in counselor education from Longwood University and a doctoral degree in educational policy, planning and leadership from William & Mary.

In the community, Randy has served on numerous boards including the Robert R. Moton Museum, Inc., Hope Again and The Salvation Army, and has also been a member of speakers’ bureaus for other community agencies. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Chiquita, and they have two daughters, Zanyah and Reagan; they all give Randy some of his greatest inspiration.

Dorian Wanzer ’09
EBAN Distinguished Young Alumna Award

Dorian is the grassroots advocacy manager for outreach and communications at the National Association of Community Health Centers in Washington, D.C. She oversees advocacy correspondence, social media engagement and legislative outreach for a network of nearly 100,000 public health advocates.

A dedicated public servant, Dorian has made professional contributions to public and nonprofit organizations including the Smithsonian Institution, Communities In Schools and The United Way. Dorian also serves as a program volunteer for the National Museum of African American History & Culture and a member of the DC Society of Health Policy Professionals. A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, she holds a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University and a political science degree with a minor in Spanish from Elon University. Her fondest memories of Elon are spending time with her roommates, initiation into the Omicron Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha and spending a semester at the University of Ghana.

Eugene Daniel ’11
EBAN Distinguished Young Alumnus Award

Eugene is the young adult discipleship coordinator at St. Paul Baptist Church in Peoria, Illinois, where he oversees growth and connection for people ages 19 to 29. He is also an accomplished TV news reporter and fill-in anchor for the local CBS-affiliate, WMBD 31 News.

Eugene is passionate about encouraging people to pursue their purpose and serve others. Raised in Marietta, Georgia, he loves to write poetry and song lyrics, and credits his mother, Judy, for teaching him how to sing. He graduated from Elon University in 2011 with degrees in broadcasting and media arts and entertainment. During his time at Elon, he was involved with Phoenix Weekly, Affinity at Elon, Residence Life, the Gospel Choir, Phoenix 14 News and the S.M.A.R.T. Mentoring Program. He is pursuing a master of divinity degree at Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln.

Kim Bush-Mack ’87
Gail Fonville Parker Distinguished Alumna Award

A native of Graham, North Carolina, Kim earned a degree in business administration from Elon College and a master’s degree in public administration from North Carolina Central University. She is also certified as a human resources professional with the National Society of Human Resources Professionals. She serves as associate vice president of human resources at Burlington-based LabCorp, where she has worked for 20 years.
Kim is a charter member of the Burlington Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a former member of the Alamance Community College Foundation Board of Directors and president of the Alamance County Human Resource Association. She is married to the Rev. Sir Walter Lee Mack, Jr., pastor of Union Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, where she serves as the First Lady for the 4,200-member congregation. She published her first book, “How To Keep The Devil off your Guest List,” in 2011. Kim is the daughter of Erma Wilson Bush and the late Herbert Bush.

Ira “Ike” Credle ’83
Eugene Perry Distinguished Alumnus Award

Ike was born and raised in New Bern, North Carolina, with his mother and four brothers. He graduated from Elon College with a history degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served for 20 years in a variety of assignments before culminating his career in the intelligence office at the Pentagon. Upon his retirement from military service in 2003, he began serving as a Department of the Army civilian, performing duties as a senior training specialist at the 1st Information Operations Command, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Ike has a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and is in the dissertation phase for a doctoral degree in education in organizational leadership from Grand Canyon University. He is very active in his church, New Chapel Baptist Church, in Camp Springs, Maryland. He accepted his calling to the ministry in 2008 and was issued a license to preach the gospel in November 2011. He and wife Sharron have a daughter, Alyssa.