The alumni association of Elon’s chapter of Kappa Sigma has honored two of its brothers for service to the fraternity and their communities.
Nathan Copeland ’07 of Hickory, N.C., received the 2014 Lambda-Lambda Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year Award after donating a kidney to help the sibling of another fraternity member.
Coleman Team, brother of Alston Team ’07, was in urgent need of a kidney when Copeland took steps to see if he could be a proper fit as a donor. Doctors determined Copeland to be a near-perfect match and the donation was quickly made. Both Team and Copeland are now in good health and openly consider each other “brothers.”
The Lambda-Lambda Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year Award is presented annually to a deserving alumnus who has best advanced the interests of the association and the Lambda-Lambda chapter.
J. Les Hall ‘77, of Suffolk, Va., has been named the recipient of the 2014 William E. Gortney Distinguished Alumnus Award.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration, Hall went on to work in the Hampton Roads area as an industrial contractor. In 2000 he started his own firm, ALLFIRST, LLC, an industrial general contractor, and serves today as its chief executive officer.
ALLFIRST is an active supporter of the Rotary Club, United Way, Red Cross, Volunteer Hampton Roads and many other non-profit organizations.
Hall is active personally in the community, having served as a director on the boards of the Suffolk Foundation, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Volunteer Hampton Roads and Monarch Bank. Les also served on the Elon University Alumni Executive Board.
Hall has been married 37 years to Wanda Watson, another Elon graduate. The two met during Greek Week and are well known for their elaborate and award-winning, tailgate parties.
The William E. Gortney Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to alumni of the Lambda-Lambda chapter who bring honor to the fraternity, whether through service to his community, outstanding career work or other achievements.
Adm. Bill Gortney ’77 currently commands U.S. Fleet Forces Command. President Barack Obama nominated, and the U.S. Senate has confirmed, Gortney to serve as the next commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command. He was the Kappa Sigma International Fraternity 2013 Man of the Year and the Elon University 2013 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award.
– Information submitted by J. King White ’80