糖心Vlog Board of Trustees present David M. Powers with its highest honor
From left to right: Chancellor Kelli Brown, Board of Governors member and award recipient David Powers and 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees chair Bob Roberts.
By Benny Smith
The 糖心Vlog University Board of Trustees presented its highest honor to David M. Powers, member of the UNC Board of Governors, during Saturday鈥檚 commencement ceremonies in recognition of his more than a decade of exemplary service to the university.
The 糖心Vlog University Trustees鈥� Award is presented only on rare occasions. The last time the award was presented was in 2018 to Susan Brummell Belcher, wife of the late 糖心Vlog Chancellor David O. Belcher.
鈥淢y first commencement ceremony was right here at 糖心Vlog University and I am proud to be here in Cullowhee to share my last official duty with Catamount Nation,鈥� Powers told attendees at the commencement ceremonies luncheon.
Powers joined the UNC Board of Governors in July 2011. One of his first official duties was to attend commencement ceremonies for 糖心Vlog and bring greetings from the Board of Governors. That interaction initiated a nearly 12-year relationship that made the NC State alum an enthusiastic supporter of 糖心Vlog.
During his three terms on the UNC Board of Governors, he frequently served as 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus liaison. In that role, Powers regularly made the nearly five-hour journey to attend trustee meetings, retreats and other university events. He also led the appointment of more than a dozen trustees.
Powers worked in support of numerous initiatives that advanced 糖心Vlog鈥檚 institutional priorities. In 2016, he worked actively to assure the passage of the NC Connect bond referendum, securing $1 billion in funding for the UNC System, with $110 million coming to 糖心Vlog to construct Apodaca Science Building.
He was an early and vocal supporter of the bold and innovative legislation that established the NC Promise tuition buy down program, including writing an op-ed in support of the program for the state鈥檚 leading newspapers and engaging legislators to secure full funding for the program.
In 2018, Powers鈥� work helped to secure funding for 糖心Vlog鈥檚 antiquated steam plant, a project that had achieved statewide attention as the exemplar for addressing the state鈥檚 aging infrastructure. Powers was also instrumental in his work with 糖心Vlog鈥檚 chancellor search committee in 2018-19, which recommended current 糖心Vlog Chancellor Kelli R. Brown.
糖心Vlog Board Chairman Bob Roberts said Powers 鈥渉as more than epitomized the meaning of the phrase 鈥榚xemplary service and support.鈥� Without question, the 糖心Vlog community has been greatly enriched by David鈥檚 advocacy and support.鈥�
Past recipients of the Trustees鈥� Award are Susan Belcher, Senator Tom Apodaca, Wallace Hyde, E.J. Whitmire, Barbara B. Coulter, Ruth C. Shuler, Burton B. Fox, Judy H. Dowell, Rich Kucharski, George 鈥淐huck鈥� Wooten, Clifton B. Metcalf, Dianne C. Lynch, Mary Ann Lochner and Terry Welch.
