David L. Wyrick ’94, Stuart E.Y. Richie ’10 (in absentia) and Maurice “Don” Owens ’95 were honored with the 2016 Elon College Distinguished Alumni Awards during a special April 28 ceremony.
David L. Wyrick ’94 was recognized for his accomplishments in the natural, mathematical and computing sciences, while Stuart E.Y. Richie ’10 was recognized in absentia for her contributions to the arts and humanities. Maurice “Don” Owens ’95 received the award for his work in the social sciences.
“This is not only one of my favorite alumni events of the year, but one of my favorite events of the year” in general, said President Leo M. Lambert during his opening remarks. “This event is a reminder of the transformative power of a liberal arts education. Each of you has made an extraordinary contribution to the world.”
David L. Wyrick ’94
Elon College Distinguished Alumnus Award – Natural, Mathematical and Computing Sciences
“David is a great friend and a colleague. He recently secured one of eight NCAA-Department of Defense grants to design an evidence-based platform to increase concussion reporting. It’s really special that we will be collaborating with him in this project.” —Professor of Exercise Science Eric Hall
David an associate professor of public health education and director of the Institute to Promote Athlete Health & Wellness at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has extensive experience in innovative research methods, program evaluation and intervention development and has received more than a dozen grants from the National Institutes of Health. He was recently awarded funding from UNCG through the BELL initiative to develop a new graduate course in public health education.
A prevention scientist, David is the founder and president of Prevention Strategies, LLC, an official affiliate of UNCG. With a deep concern for the community and the welfare of adolescents and young adults, he informs his thinking and acting with the findings of prevention research and creates programs and curricula that improve the quality of life for others. For example, he has created Web-based programs targeting alcohol and other drugs that are being used by approximately 150 universities around the country. David also serves as the chair for the Early Career Preventionist Network, a Web-based organization that seeks to link individuals who are interested in prevention science and to foster the development of early career preventionists. He is a member of the board of directors for the Society for Prevention Research and various review groups for NIH, as well as a reviewer for the journal Prevention Science and an expert consultant for various groups, including the NCAA, Be Active North Carolina and the National Center for Drug Free Sport.
After graduating from Elon in 1994 with a degree in exercise and sports science, he obtained master’s and doctoral degrees from UNCG. He is a prolific scholar with 30 peer-reviewed publications since 2001, and six more currently under review. He and his co-authors have researched alcohol use among college students, dining habits of college students, cigarette smoking policies and health impacts, and high school drug prevention programs, to name a few. He has received research grants from the National Football League Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Nursing Research, the NCAA Sport Science Institute, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. He lives with his wife, Cheryl, and three daughters in Greensboro, N.C.
Stuart E.Y. Richie ’10 (in absentia)
Elon College Distinguished Alumnus Award – Arts and Humanities
“From the very beginning, Stuart distinguished herself as dogged individual, a hard worker, and perhaps the oldest freshman I knew who was really 18, but not really 18. … She was matured beyond her years and took hard work with ease.” —Fred Rubeck, professor of performing arts
Stuart earned degrees in theatre studies and theatrical design & production from Elon in 2010. While finishing her studies, she had the good fortune of completing a stage management internship with Cirque du Soleil’s production of “Mystère” the spring of her senior year. This internship, alongside a wealth of other experiences working in production and stage management at Elon, prepared her to move quickly into stage management roles with Cirque du Soleil. She is currently working on the traveling production of “Varekai” as it tours across Europe.
Before entering the world of stage management, Stuart was a performer. She acted in musical theater at the regional level, and competed in choirs for more than a decade. It was during this journey she discovered what the role of the stage manager was—and fell in love with it. At Elon, she worked as stage manager on “110 in the Shade” and the kickoff gala for the Ever Elon Campaign, as well as on “Moonlight and Magnolias” and “On Golden Pond” at the Heritage Theatre Festival and “All Together Now” and “Rhine Acrobats” at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.
In her current role, she assists with the show’s transition from the traditional large tents to the arena format, manages artists and their cues within the show as well as coordinates with the technical department for daily rehearsals and performances. Show tracks included backstage manager as well as front of house calling position.
Maurice “Don” Owens ’95
Elon College Distinguished Alumnus Award – Social Sciences
“Don has always had a heart and care for other people. His focus was doing something well because it’d lead him to do something good for other people. He’s always come back to, ‘What can I do to make a difference in the world, to help other people?’” —Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies Laura Roselle
Don is a 1995 political science graduate and proud to call Elon his second home. A native of North Carolina, he came to Elon intending to be an accountant, but the energy, back-and-forth discussions during the 1992 presidential campaign drew him to the political science department.
After working for the state of North Carolina and Progress Energy in Raleigh, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he has worked in strategic communications, public relations and government relations for more than 18 of the past 21 years. During that time, his work has focused primarily on shaping the messaging, outreach, lobbying, marketing advocacy and planning needs for organizations characterized as “groups of conscience.” Some of these organizations have included Social Security Works, the Center for Teaching Quality, the National Black Child Development Institute, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition, the National Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children and Public Citizen, where he’s helping to amplify the people’s voice in the nation’s capital to ensure that all citizens are represented.
A passionate advocate on behalf of communities in need and early childhood education, Don serves as a board member of the Southeast Children’s Fund in Washington, D.C., helping with advocacy and fundraising. When he returns home to North Carolina he often brings books to a new generation of children who attend the Head Start program he graduated from in 1978. He has given numerous speeches to Head Starts in Washington, D.C., to reinforce with parents the importance of enrolling their children in the program.