23rd Annual William C. Friday Award
23rd Annual William C. Friday Award
NORTH CAROLINA State University
JAMES B. HUNT JR. LIBRARY
Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, 4 p.m.
Honoring
Julius Tillery
Julius Tillery is a distinguished leader in environmental, agricultural, and racial justice. As a fifth-generation cotton farmer and native of North Carolina’s Roanoke Valley, Tillery founded Black Cotton to honor his roots, promote Black-grown cotton, and uplift the Black community closest to the cotton fields in Northampton County. Tillery also serves as the North Carolina State Coordinator for the Black Family Land Trust, a member of the Southern SARE Administrative Council, and a member of the North Carolina Forestry Advisory Council. Tillery is a 2008 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied economics and entrepreneurship. Read more »
Program
Welcome | Shannon Dolan, Park Scholar, Class of 2022
President Friday’s Legacy | Daniel Haller, Park Scholar, Class of 2022
Remarks by UNC System President Peter Hans | Peter Hans, President, UNC System
Presentation of Award | Ethan Scheper, Park Scholar, Class of 2022
Remarks by Julius Tillery | Julius Tillery, Founder, Black Cotton
Audience Questions and Answers
Closing Remarks | Megan Pryor, Park Scholar, Class of 2022
The William C. Friday Award
The William C. Friday Award, established in 2000 and named for the former president of the University of North Carolina System, is an annual honor presented by the senior class of Park Scholars on behalf of the entire Park Scholarships program. This award honors Friday’s dedication and excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character, and recognizes individuals who emulate Friday’s dedication to those principles. Each year’s award recipient is invited to speak at a campus-wide event.
Past recipients of the William C. Friday Award include NC State Chancellor Emeritus Larry Monteith, General Hugh Shelton, noted historian John Hope Franklin, Special Olympics of North Carolina CEO and President Keith Fishburne, Ambassador James A. Joseph, Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst, behavioral economist Dan Ariely, CORRAL Riding Academy Founder and President Joy Currey, former UNC System President Tom Ross, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Founder and CEO Amy Gage Wright, GrowingChange Founder Noran Sanford, A Place at the Table Founder and Executive Maggie Kane, and activist, filmmaker, and artist Bree Newsome Bass. Read more »
FEATURING REMARKS BY
Peter Hans
President, University of North Carolina System
Peter Hans is the seventh president of the University of North Carolina System. As a first-generation college graduate, he is committed to providing accessible, affordable, high-quality educational opportunities for all. Read more »
Park Scholarships Class of 2022 Distinguished Speakers Committee
Co-chair
Co-chair
The Park Scholarships Program
The mission of the Park Scholarships program is to bring exceptional students to NC State, based on outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The program develops and supports Park Scholars in these areas, preparing them for lifelong contributions to the university, state, nation, and world.
Approximately 40 scholarships will be awarded this year to outstanding entering freshmen for undergraduate study in any discipline at NC State. To date, 22 classes of Park Scholars have graduated and have built a vibrant alumni network. For more details about the program and recent accomplishments of Park Scholars and alumni, please review the program’s annual report.