Steve Ellington ’80, Michelle Wideman ’00, Priscilla Awkard ’95 and Kevin Gilmore ’96 will be recognized as the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Awards recipients at a ceremony on May 2.
The Office of Alumni Engagement will recognize four alumni for their leadership, accomplishments and service during this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony on May 2. Honored will be:
Steve Ellington ’80
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Awarded to an alumnus who has distinguished himself in a profession and in the community and brought honor to Elon.
An accounting and business administration graduate, Ellington currently serves as the president of Trivantage, LLC, Glen Raven’s distribution and marketing services subsidiary. A born leader, he has served on the Elon Alumni Board and now serves on the Industrial Fabrics Association International Board (past chairman), the Marine Leadership Alliance Board (past president) and the Industry Advisory Council for the College of Textiles at N.C. State University.
Michelle Wideman ’00
Distinguished Alumna of the Year
Awarded to an alumna who has distinguished herself in a profession and in the community and brought honor to Elon.
A broadcast communications and journalism graduate who is passionate about building relationships with customers, Wideman serves as Dell Boomi’s chief customer success officer. In this global role, she’s responsible for the success and retention of more than 10,000 customers and $130 million dollars in renewal revenue. She has remained loyal to her alma mater by supporting Elon as a chapter adviser for Phi Mu and an active member and outgoing President of the Elon Aumni Board.
Priscilla Awkard ’95
Distinguished Service to Elon University
Awarded to an organization, business, foundation, or individual who has demonstrated outstanding service that promotes the advancement of Elon.
An accounting graduate, Awkard is a vice president at Coastal Credit Union in Raleigh, North Carolina. At Elon, she was a star volleyball player and distinguished leader on campus, serving as a Student Ambassador, member of the Black Cultural Society, student worker in Student Life and resident assistant. She is an active member of Elon University Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Presidents Black Life Advisory Council and Elon Black Alumni Network.
Kevin Gilmore ’96
Distinguished Alumni Service
Awarded to an alumnus or alumna who has given extraordinary service to his or her community.
A communications graduate with a passion for service, Gilmore serves as executive director of the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity in Delaware. He was first exposed to the service organization in 1992 during the first PreSERVE new student orientation program at Elon. He later went on to lead several alternative break service trips with Habitat as a proud member of Elon’s Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Since 1941, Elon has presented the annual alumni awards, which are the highest accolades conferred by the Office of Alumni Engagement. For more information about this year’s awards, contact Mary Chayse Haithcock, coordinator of alumni engagement and special events, at mhaithcock@elon.edu.