Portraits of Distinction

Mr. Lenus Perkins ’91
Distinguished Alumni Award

Executive vice president and COO of Bhate Environmental Associates Inc., Birmingham;

USA Board of Trustees, secretary, chair of budget and finance committee
Civil engineer. A founding member of the nonprofit Bong Education Center Alumni Association, supporting educational programs in Liberia, his birthplace. Member, board of directors of Navigate Affordable Housing Partners in Birmingham; active in many community improvement organizations. Recipient of the Patriot Award for supporting employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Dr. Mike Wojciechowski ’78, ’81
Distinguished Alumni Award

Senior lecturer, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles

Recipient of the USA Mitchell College of Business Impact Award. Teacher of new venture creation and social entrepreneurship at Loyola’s Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship; named professor of the year in 2018. Instrumental in raising over $5 billion in investor funds and developing more than 60,000 apartment units to provide affordable housing. Lends expertise in governance, strategic planning and entrepreneurship on numerous boards.

Dr. Carol Scott Cash ’70, ’72
Distinguished Alumni Award

Professor, educational leader, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

Bachelor’s in secondary education and master’s in guidance counseling at South. Doctorate in education from Virginia Tech. K-12 teacher and then principal for 30 years; named Outstanding Virginia High School Principal of the Year. Teacher, mentor and leader at Virginia Tech for 15 years. Tireless promoter of educational opportunities. Has contributed to the graduation of more than 211 doctoral students.

Mr. Ray Kennedy ’78 and 
Mrs. Patsy Kennedy ’96
V. Gordon Moulton Distinguished Alumni Award

Members, University of South Alabama Legacy Society; previously served on the University of South Alabama National Alumni Association Board of Directors

Patsy: Chair of the College of Nursing Development Council. Served the University for more than 30 years, retiring in 2014 from the Health Services Foundation administration. Charter member, 
Jag-Gals women’s booster club.

Ray: Mitchell College of Business graduate. Former member of the Jaguar Athletic Fund Board of Directors. On committees that supported the design and construction of the MacQueen Alumni Center and the Jaguar Baseball Ring of Honor.

Dr. Robert V. Barrow
William J. “Happy” Fulford Inspirational Achievement Award (Awarded Posthumously)

Professor emeritus, established the Criminal Justice Program at the University of South Alabama

A pioneer at South; retired in 1998 with more than 30 years of service. Consultant to numerous local and state governmental bodies. Faculty adviser for student on-campus organizations. Received commendations from the Mobile Police Department, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Secret Service. Successful advocate: From his efforts, South received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding.

The J.L. Bedsole Foundation
Community Partner Award

Has dedicated nearly $2.5 million to South since 1979, including gifts for scholarships and the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine

Committed to making a difference in the lives 
of young people at South and across southwest Alabama. Avid supporter of civic, cultural, artistic and economic development opportunities. Through the Bedsole Scholars Program, gives students a chance to earn an undergraduate degree to impact their lives and the lives of their families. The foundation is named after its founder, the late businessman and philanthropist Joseph Linyer Bedsole.