USA National Alumni Association Recognizes Alumni, Service Leaders

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Posted on June 1, 2017

Joy Washington

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The University of South Alabama National Alumni Association tonight honored five alumni and individuals for their outstanding achievements during the annual Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards gala held at the Mitchell Center.

“The Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards dinner celebrates the accomplishments and achievements of our extraordinary alumni,” said Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Margaret Sullivan. “USA has so many accomplished alumni that give back in various ways and this special evening highlights some of these amazing individuals that inspire me each and every day.”

South’s 2017 Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards recipients were recognized for their achievements and contributions to their communities.

This year’s recipients of the Distinguished Service Award:

• Dr. Pat C. Covey, founding dean of USA’s Pat C. Covey College of Allied Health Professions and retired senior vice president for academic affairs, and Lee Covey, founder of the country’s first non-profit student housing provider, the Collegiate Housing Foundation.

This year’s recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award:

• James L. “Jim” Busby, ’83, founder of Drobotik Sciences, a new aerial video and photography company founded by Jim and his son, Jimmy Busby.  He is also the founder of Quality Micro Systems, or QMS, which he launched in 1977.
• Vice Admiral William “Dean” Lee, ’79, retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, served as Atlantic Area Commander, Commander of Defense Force East, and director of the Department of Homeland Security Joint Task Force-East.
• John S. Meigs Jr., M.D. ’79, family physician and member of the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame, serves on the Board of Censors of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and is the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

“The National Alumni Association is honored to host this annual gala in recognition of our outstanding alumni and friends,” said Director of Alumni Relations Karen Edwards. “Every day, USA alumni are making a difference across the globe, setting an example for future generations of Jaguars. It's important to highlight their achievements, and we couldn't be more proud!”

The University of South Alabama National Alumni Association was founded in 1974 with a mission to support and positively influence the goals of the University through an active relationship with the University, students, alumni and friends. The vision of the USA National Alumni Association is to provide comprehensive programs, services and resources to benefit a community that South Alabama has created.

USA currently enrolls 16,699 students and has awarded more than 87,000 degrees. The number of individual alumni in USA’s history totals more than 74,000.

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