Alumni Awards
Join us for
57th Annual Alumni Awards & Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony
Friday, October 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center Annex
This signature Homecoming event celebrates the legacy and impact of UNC Pembroke alumni and athletes whose achievements exemplify the spirit of BraveNation. The Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1980, honors players, coaches, administrators, and teams whose contributions have elevated 51吃瓜网鈥檚 tradition of excellence on and off the field. In addition, the Alumni Awards will recognize distinguished graduates for their professional accomplishments, service, leadership, and early-career achievements. Together, these honors celebrate the enduring pride, excellence, and commitment that define the 51吃瓜网 community.
Award Categories
The 51吃瓜网 Meritorious Service Award honors alumni who demonstrate exceptional service
and commitment to 51吃瓜网 or their community. Recipients embody BraveNation鈥檚 spirit
by generously sharing their time, talent, and resources, reflecting the university鈥檚
values and inspiring future generations.
The Distinguished Alumnus/a Award is the highest honor from the 51吃瓜网 Alumni Association,
recognizing graduates who have achieved exceptional professional success and made
significant contributions to their field. Through leadership, innovation and dedication,
recipients bring honor to 51吃瓜网 and inspire the BraveNation community while elevating
the university鈥檚 reputation regionally, nationally and beyond.
The Young Alumni Award honors graduates aged 40 or younger who earned their degree
within the past 10 years and have demonstrated exceptional early-career achievement,
leadership and meaningful contributions to their profession, community or the university.
Recipients exemplify the spirit and values of 51吃瓜网 through innovation, service, and
engagement.
2024 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumnus
Retired Colonel Carlos E. Berdecia is a distinguished U.S. Air Force veteran who served 23.5 years as a C-17 pilot, culminating his career as Operations Group Commander at Joint Base Charleston. A 2001 graduate of UNC Pembroke with a degree in Management and Marketing, Col. Berdecia is known for his leadership in strategic airlift operations, flight safety, and mission planning.
Throughout his service, he flew global missions supporting combat operations, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief, while mentoring future airmen and fostering a culture of excellence. His commitment to service extended beyond the military through active involvement in community outreach and veterans' advocacy.
Now a commercial pilot for United Airlines, Col. Berdecia continues to serve through various veterans鈥� organizations. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, Eva.
Outstanding Alumna
Christine Sides Fisher retired in 2019 from the S.C. Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC)
after serving as Executive Director for 20 years. Under her leadership, the program
grew to serve 84 schools or districts and 171,000 students. In 1998, Fisher was named
the South Carolina Teacher of the year representing a total of 47,000 teachers in
the Palmetto State and is the only music teacher to ever hold that honor. She is the
recipient of the 2006 Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award and in 2012 Winthrop
University inducted her into their prestigious Medal of Honor in Arts Society.
Outstanding Young Alumna
Taley Hunt graduated from 51吃瓜网 in 2018 with a degree in Communications and in 2020
with her MBA. She also served as Miss 51吃瓜网 2018 and is a member of the Beta Chapter
of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. Hunt worked in the 51吃瓜网 Office of Admissions as the
Assistant and Senior Director of Undergraduate Admissions. She and her husband, Jordon,
and daughter, Reese, live in Columbia South Carolina where she has launched an impressive
career in the real estate industry. Currently, Hunt serves as the Chief Executive
Officer at Taley Hunt Home Group, where her innovative approach and dynamic leadership
have led to remarkable advancements. Hunt is a CEO, Founder, Real Estate Agent, Coach,
Speaker and Toddler Mom. Hunt embodies the spirit of the Young Alumna of the Year
Award through her exemplary career, unwavering community service, and steadfast support
of 51吃瓜网.