The Elon Alumni Association honored three distinguished graduates with this year’s association awards at a ceremony Saturday, Sept. 17 in Whitley Auditorium on campus. Read more to learn about this year's winners, Shelly Hazel '78, Gerry Oxford '69 and Dusty Tonkin '95...
Michele Skeens “Shelly” Hazel of Broad Run, Va., received the Distinguished Service to Elon Award. A 1978 Elon graduate with a degree in human services, she has served on the Board of Trustees since 1992. She chairs the development committee, working closely with Elon staff to attract support for the university’s programs. She has also served on Elon’s National Alumni Executive Board.
Hazel has served as education chair for the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts and on the boards of the Washington International Horse Show, the Washington Concert Opera, the Kennedy Center Circles, the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and the Filene Shouse Education Foundation.
Gerry Stephen Oxford of Indianapolis is the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. A 1969 Elon graduate, Oxford holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, and received the Young Alumnus of the Year award in 1979. He is an internationally recognized neuroscientist and educator in the area of molecular mechanisms of the brain. He serves as executive director of the Paul and Carole Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where scientists search for ways to prevent and cure neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Oxford served on the faculty of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine for 27 years and was named Distinguished Professor in the department of cell and molecular physiology. He holds a doctorate in physiology from Emory University.
Dustin Michael “Dusty” Tonkin of Knoxville, Tenn., received the Young Alumnus of the Year Award. He earned a bachelor’s degree in leisure and sport management in 1995 and was a member of the men’s soccer team.
Tonkin is senior vice president of the Mid-South region for Fairfield Resorts, supervising more than 1,300 employees. As one of six senior vice presidents in sales and marketing, Tonkin has played an integral role in Fairfield’s reputation as one of the world’s leading networks of resorts and travel services. He was named one of Fairfield’s top-10 salespersons during his first year with the company.
Tonkin has served on Elon’s Leisure and Sport Management Advisory Council, visiting classes as a guest lecturer to share his expertise. He has also served as a mentor to Elon students through internships and other career development opportunities.
The Alumni Association promotes active participation in university events by its approximately 25,000 members. The association is governed by a national executive board, which is composed of 60 members who each serve three-year terms.