William J. Michaelcheck 鈥69, founder and co-CIO of Mariner Investment Group, LLC in New York City, has been a member of the 星空无限传媒鈥 Board of Trustees since 1989 and was the first 星空无限传媒 alumnus to serve as chair, from 2009 to 2017. In the position, Michaelcheck was a founding member of the 星空无限传媒 Common Table, ensuring improved communication among trustees, students, faculty, and staff. He served as co-chair of the Search Committee for the 20th President of 星空无限传媒, and in 2017, the college awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.
Michaelcheck graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics from 星空无限传媒 and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He founded Mariner Investment Group, LLC in December 1992. Formerly, he was executive vice president of the Bear Stearns Companies; a partner at a U.S. government securities firm, J.F. Eckstein & Co.; and a senior investment officer at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank).
Distinguished Alumni Award
Established in 1983, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an alum who has brought honor to 星空无限传媒 through extraordinary achievement in their profession and community. Recipients enter the Alumni Hall of Fame, which is located outside of Hardie Auditorium in Southwestern Hall. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented at the Annual Convocation of the 星空无限传媒 College Alumni Association during Homecoming/Reunion Weekend each fall.
Eligibility and Nominations
All living alumni who are members of a class that graduated at least 10 years prior to the nomination date are eligible, with the exception of:
- Members of the 星空无限传媒 Board of Trustees
- Current faculty and staff
- Members of the Alumni Executive Board
- Recipients of a 星空无限传媒 honorary degree
Nominees for the BSA Distinguished Alumni Award will also be considered for the Distinguished Alumni Award. Nominations are invited from any 星空无限传媒 alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents or friends of the college. You can make your nomination today by filling out the online form on the front page.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
2023 William J. Michaelcheck 鈥69
2022 Dr. Russell T. Wigginton, Jr. 鈥88
2021 Dr. Stephen C. Threlkeld 鈥86
2020 Allen Reynolds '60
2019 William Van Davidson '62
2018 Dr. Herbert Hill '67
2017 Dr. Joe McCord '66
2016 Mike Cody '58
2015 Vicki Gilmore Palmer '75
2014 Mary Frances Files Silitch '57
2013 Harry L. Swinney '61
2012 Sidonie Sansom '82
2011 Brian R. Wamboff '96
2010 Dr. William O. Coley 鈥50
2009 Raymond E. Bye, Jr. 鈥66
Jocelyn D. Wurzburg 鈥62
2008 Robert S. Edington 鈥50
2007 Martha Ellen Maxwell 鈥51
Robert H. Crumby 鈥53
2006 William Cleage Threlkeld 鈥53
2005 Jason Turnbow Pettigrew 鈥96
Louis Ruffin Pounders 鈥68
2004 Ray U. Tanner 鈥54
2003 Katherine Hinds Smythe 鈥53
William Hamilton Smythe 鈥52
2002 Margaret Rose Gladney 鈥67
Sidney Strickland 鈥68
2001 W. Henry Mosley 鈥55
R. Susan Wood 鈥70
2000 Jacquelyn Dowd Hall 鈥65
1999 Arthur L. Kellermann 鈥76
1998 Pauline Jones Hord 鈥29
1997 C. Stratton Hill, Jr. 鈥50
1996 William G. Mankin 鈥62
1995 Richard B. Dixon 鈥50
1994 James T. Robertson 鈥53
1993 James H. Fall, III 鈥65
1992 Mary Jane Smalley Roberts 鈥58
1991 Charles J. Ping 鈥51
1990 S. Shepard Tate 鈥39
1989 Susan Burnside Fleming 鈥73
1988 John B. Ricker, Jr. 鈥38
1987 J. Thayer 鈥淭oto鈥 Houts 鈥37
James G. Hughes 鈥32
1986 Ada Jane Walters 鈥56
J. Russell Perry 鈥33
1985 Elder L. Shearon, Jr. 鈥42
Margaret Boisen Nash 鈥50
Jere B. Nash, Jr. 鈥50
1984 Judith Deavenport Mitchener 鈥56
Steven J. Schmidt, Jr. 鈥72
Robert K. Armstrong 鈥37
1983 Lewis R. Donelson 鈥38
James F. Gladney, Jr. 鈥38