Julie Andrews '13
Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year
In the last two years, Julie Andrews ’13 has added 18 professional awards to her résumé. As marketing manager for Logan Homes, her work has been recognized with awards for best website, social media campaign, newsletter and more. In 2019, she was recognized by Logan Homes as their North Carolina “Employee of the Year.”
A member of the UNCW Alumni Association Board and Cape Fear Steering Committee, she also serves as president of the Communication Studies Alumni Chapter. She is the 2020 President of Cape Fear CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) and served as Event Producer on the TEDxAirlie committee that brought TEDx back to Wilmington in 2019. She was the key liaison and partner with UNCW and the Department of Communication Studies to help bring a viewing site to campus to better involve students in event planning and live broadcast.
She graduated with honors with a bachelor’s in communication studies and was a member of the Lamda Pi Eta honors society and the Communication Studies Society.
Mark Scalf '80
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Mark Scalf ’80, the all-time winningest coach at UNCW and in the Colonial Athletic Association, retired from coaching baseball following the 2019 season, one that saw the Seahawks win their sixth CAA tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Regionals for the tenth time.
A native of Cary, N.C., Scalf first walked on Seahawk turf as a freshman infielder in 1977 and graduated with a degree in physical education. He rejoined the baseball program as an assistant coach in 1984 and was elevated to head coach in June 1991.
The Seahawks won nine CAA regular season championships and six CAA Tournament titles with Scalf at the helm. He twice served as an assistant coach on Team USA’s Collegiate National Team and celebrated his 941st and final career victory with a CAA Championship vs. Elon on May 26, 2019.
Former players, 81 of whom went on to play professionally, have noted how Scalf inspired them to be better versions of themselves and brought a community of UNCW fans, faculty, staff, students and alumni to Brooks Field.
Dr. Ashlee Balena '95
Distinguished Citizen of the Year
After teaching 9th grade English in Quito, Ecuador, and earning her master’s and doctoral degrees, Ashlee S. Balena ’95 returned to Wilmington to give back to the university that opened so many doors for her academically and professionally.
She is now a senior lecturer in UNCW’s Department of World Languages and Cultures, where she declared Spanish as her major at age 17.
Balena’s passion for teaching is matched by her desire to make a difference in the local community and abroad. She has made recent mission trips to Nicaragua and Mexico to serve as an interpreter and volunteer with Lifepoint Church and their partners Amigos for Christ and Children’s Cup, aiding with the construction of a school, water wells and bridges between two cultures.
In the community, she teaches “SWAM: Spanish with a Mission” and Spanish to youth as the Spanish Club advisor at Holly Tree Elementary. At UNCW, she has led study abroad programs to Ecuador, Spain and Argentina.
Balena was the recipient of the 2017 Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award and the 2019 UNCW Excellence in e-Learning Award.