February 28, 2025
Dear UNCW Community:
This month was full of reasons for celebration at UNCW, ranging from a historic $25 million commitment announced on Feb. 7 to Homecoming, a weekend of events that brought together Seahawks to reconnect, reminisce, and acknowledge much of what makes UNCW so special.
Many thanks to Dr. Yousry Sayed and his wife, Linda ’78, ’85M for their generous contribution to support healthcare initiatives and teacher recruitment and retention. They set a new benchmark for generosity and vision at UNCW.
My congratulations and appreciation go out to the recipients of the 2025 Alumni Association Distinguished Awards: Robert T. Abbotts ’85, Laurel Shackleton Hillen Engel ’14, Mary Claire “MC” Curran ’11 and John Scholz ’84. The awards recognize extraordinary achievement, outstanding character and exemplary service to the university and community. The four Seahawks were acknowledged during Homecoming and will be honored at a formal celebration as a part of the Weekend in Wilmington in June.
Film Studies alum Dylan Bradshaw ’19 brought his work to the attention of millions as the winner of the 2025 Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest. His commercial Abduction, a collaboration with his friend Nate Norell, took home the $1 million prize and aired during the Super Bowl.
More opportunities are on the horizon for UNCW students through a partnership between the College of Science and Engineering, the company Protocase and its subsidiary, 45Drives. The strategic initiative will provide students with enhanced research opportunities and hands-on training in advanced manufacturing and open-source data storage.
Commendations also go out to some of our tremendous faculty. Brian Davis received the 2025 Fainting Robin Foundation Distinguished Scholar Award for groundbreaking research in theoretical atomic physics and archaeoastronomy and his 43 years of teaching physics and astronomy at UNCW. Zachary Long was a recipient of the 2025 UNC Board of Governors Teaching Excellence Award for his work in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, demonstrating a commitment to his students and the university’s educational mission.
Cynthia Demetriou, associate provost for Student Engagement, Enrollment, and Retention (SEER) at UNCW, participated in a two-week Fulbright seminar in France as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar. This brought back memories of my own Fulbright Fellowship in France, and I know she has forged connections that will expand UNCW’s perspective on supporting student success.
Campus is busy with a variety of events highlighting UNCW’s successes. The Department of Theatre put on a production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and previous department productions were nominated for six 2025 Wilmington Theater Awards. The beach volleyball team hosts its home opener this weekend, and the swimming and diving teams have earned multiple medals at the CAA Championship meet this week.
I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk about UNCW’s achievements during my recent travels in India, with my alma mater William & Mary, and here in North Carolina. With higher education a topic of larger discussion in the news, I know many Seahawks may be wondering what the future holds. I also know, from personal experience, that the UNCW community has the ingenuity and resilience to navigate changing times and thrive in dynamic environments as we continue to soar together!
Yours in Seahawk spirit,
Aswani K. Volety
Chancellor
