The Virginia Wesleyan University Alumni Council bestows the following alumni awards to graduates of the University in recognition of outstanding professional and/or personal accomplishments in any field of endeavor. Congratulations to the following 2017 honorees:
Doug Wilson ’86
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Executive Vice President, LifeNet Health
Doug Wilson received his B.A. degree in Political Science, with focus on communication, from Virginia Wesleyan in Virginia Beach, VA. His entire career has been spent in biologics as he started working in transplantation as an administrator for a blood center and joined LifeNet Health in 1989. Doug began as a field representative and went on to establish the marketing and sales departments at LifeNet Health. In August 2006, Doug was promoted to Executive Vice President and is responsible for the Marketing and Business Development, Corporate Public Relations (PR) and Legal matters. He also serves as Vice -President of the LifeNet Health Foundation, which provides resources for the research and donor family support missions of LifeNet Health. Doug has received the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Medallion award for Excellence in Communications.
W. Taylor Franklin ’04
Alumni Service Award
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, The Franklin Johnston Group
W. Taylor Franklin is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer with The Franklin Johnston Group. His primary responsibilities include new business development, multi-family management (est: 12,000 apartment homes), the supervision of new construction and the location of new development opportunities. Taylor works alongside the company’s development team designing, planning, financing, and stabilizing new apartment communities. Taylor has been responsible for the development of 15 communities over the past 12 years with a total value of $500 million. Taylor serves on the boards of many local organizations, including the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic, Access College Foundation Board, and The Virginia Gentlemen. He is the chairman of the board at Norfolk Collegiate School. Taylor is currently a Triton for this year’s 44th Neptune Festival. He has also past served on the St. Jude Board. At the age of 25, Taylor was honored for his achievements in business and contributions to the community winning Inside Business’s 40 under 40. Taylor and his wife Emily reside in Norfolk with their three children, Caymus (8), Colgin, (6) and Charlotte.
Sydney Covey ’16
Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award
Sustainability Program Analyst, Hourigan Construction
As the Sustainability Program Analyst for Hourigan Construction, Sydney has been leading the Sustainable Construction certification processes on many commercial and federal projects for Hourigan Construction, including the Greer Environmental Sciences Center at Virginia Wesleyan University and the interior fit out of the ADP Office in Norfolk. While green building and construction practices are her focus, Sydney is also assisting in developing Hourigan’s sustainability plan to manage the company’s impact on the environment, community, and economy. As the Sustainability Program Analyst, she is connecting green building practices and corporate sustainability to help guide the organization to a more sustainable business model. Sydney started with Hourigan as a sustainability intern and has since been able to incorporate two other VWU students in Hourigan’s summer internship program. Sydney currently serves on the Market Leadership Advisory Board for the USGBC-Hampton Roads Community, as well as the Program Partners Committee for the Lynnhaven River Now and the Hampton Roads Corporate Volunteer Council.