Southern Tier Region Awards
Outstanding Young Professional Award
Lucas Boyce
This award honors and outstanding future professional member of the National Academy of Health and Physica Literacy majoring in health, physical education, recreation, dance and/or a professionally related area. This year’s recipient is Lucas Boyce, an undergraduate student at Lander University graduating in about a month. In addition to his student responsibilities, Lucas works at the Lander University Campus Recreation Center and the Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries. At Lander he is a Teaching Assistant for six classes in the PEES Department. Within the Academy, he has attended the National Student Leadership conference and serves as the Future Professional Representative to the Board of Directors. Read moreTaylor Dodson Young Professional Award
Myia L. Graves
The Taylor Dodson Young Professional Award recognizes a young professional who is less than 40 years of age and works in settings affiliated with the professional interests of the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy. The recipient of this award is Myia L. Graves. Myia is currently a Health Science Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University where her area of expertise is adolescent health. In this capacity, she serves on departmental, college and university committees. Read more
Honor Award
Charlotte Kelso
The Honor Award is the second highest award given by the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy, Southern Tier recognizing meritorious contributions to the professions related to health or physical literacy including but not limited to health, physical education dance, sport, and allied fields. The Honor Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization and profession. The recipient of this year’s award is Charlotte Kelso. Charlotte has had a long and distinguished career working in the areas of Collegiate Professional Licensing, Physical Education, Athletic Training, Coaching, Online Teaching, and Fire Safety Instruction. Charlotte is a Past President of Virginia AHPERD, and a past Vice President of SDAAHPERD for Sport and Leisure. Charlotte also served as a liaison between AAHPERD, Virginia AHPERD and the local American Heart Association promoting the Hoops for Heart Program throughout the state of Virginia. She has given her time and talent to help conduct numerous workshops and conventions throughout her career. Charlotte has been a leader in the athletic training area by working the 1994 Olympic Women Gymnastic Trials, 1987 Pan Am Games, 1995 Harlem Globetrotters and 1984-89 the Virginia HS Wrestling State Competition. Read moreAndrew H. Lewis Diversity Advancement Award
K-Lynn McKey
This award is presented to a professional member of the Southern Tier of the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy who has amassed a relevant and sustained record of advocating for, enhancing, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the fields represented by this profession. The recipient for 2025 is K-Lynn McKey. K-Lynn has been an Instructor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Louisiana Lafayette in Lafayette, Louisiana since August 2019. She will complete her Doctorate degree in Education Leadership in 2025. Her work career has included public/private K-12 schools, graduate teaching assistant at Louisiana State University, Instructor Louisiana State University, and Senior Instructor at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. At each of these stops, K-Lynn’s personal commitment to the importance and benefits of promoting diversity, equality and inclusion are known to her colleagues, students and schoolwide policy organizations. place whereas been “Safe Space” trained at every place she has worked. Read more.
W. Clyde Partin Service Award
Durand “Rudy” Macklin
The W. Clyde Partin Service Award recognizes a non-member or organization that has made a significant contribution to the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy, Southern Tier or a state or states within the Southern Tier. The recipient of the 2025 award is Durand “Rudy” Macklin of Louisiana. Rudy Macklin is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports. In his collegiate years, Rudy was an All-American Basketball player at LSU and is the second leading scorer in LSU history. He is one of five former LSU players to have his jersey retired and the first African American player at LSU to be named an All American. Read more.Donna L. Dunaway Medal
Charity Bryan
The Donna L. Dunaway Medal is the highest award the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy, Southern Tier can bestow on a member, and honors the professional life and career-long contributions to the Southern Tier states by Donna L. Dunaway. In that spirit, the Dunaway Medal honors those individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions and given meritorious service to the NAHPL Southern Tier or like-minded professional associations over a minimum period of 15 years. The 2025 recipient of this award is Charity Leigh Bryan of Louisiana. Charity’s professional life began when she joined Alabama AAHPERD and AAHPERD in 1994. As an undergraduate student at Samford University, Charity met Donna Dunaway, who became more than a professor and role model to her throughout her professional career. Donna became her lifetime mentor, friend, and part of her family. Read more.