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2008 Alumni Award Winners
John Whitman, ’50
Lifetime Achievement Award
The lifetime achievement award is awarded for recognition of a lifetime commitment to Davis & Elkins College.
 John Whitman received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Davis & Elkins College in 1950 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1951. Since then, he has achieved success in his career and actively contributed to the success of Davis & Elkins College.
As an undergraduate, John played on the D&E varsity basketball team and was a member of the State and Conference Championship teams. He was an officer in Beta Alpha Beta Honorary Business Fraternity and many other organizations. Following graduation he served with the U.S. Army in the Korean conflict.
Returning to civilian life, John was hired as an executive trainee with J.L. Hudson Co., where he stayed for 15 years, serving as an assistant buyer, department manager, branch division member and senior buyer in furniture. He left J.L. Hudson Co. in 1967 to work for Thomas Furniture Industries in Thomasville, North Carolina. Then, in 1989, John formed his own company – Whitman’s Furniture Gallery – in Canton, Ohio. In 1999, he retired after selling his company.
Throughout his adult life, John has remained connected to Davis & Elkins College. He has repeatedly served as class agent, and under his leadership, the Class of 1950 donated $127,000 to the College endowment. He was a charter member of the National Alumni Council in 1985 and served as a co-chairman for the Centennial Campaign Committee for the James S. McDonnell Foundation Chair in Business and Economics in Honor of Dr. Gloria M. Payne.
For his dedication and leadership, John has been recognized with the D&E 2001 Tower Award, induction into the Beta Alpha Beta Hall of Fame, and charter membership in the Davis & Elkins College 1904 Society.
John now resides with his wife, Louise (Thomas) Whitman in Canton Falls, Ohio, where he golfs and serves as president of the Lafayette chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and is a member of the Mayflower Society. He also journeys frequently to the east to pursue his passion for fly fishing for trout in the West Virginia Mountains.
Eric J. Nilsen, ’82
Distinguished Alumnus Award
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest award given to an alumnus or alumna who has made significant contributions to society in his or her career. The criteria for selection include career advancement, service to others, significant honors and commitment to Davis & Elkins College.
Eric Nilsen earned his Bachelors of Arts in Communications from Davis & Elkins College in 1982 and his Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the Townsend School of Business at Dowling College in Oakdale, New York, in 1992. His professional certifications include executive education programs at the Harvard Business School, Wharton Business School and Boston University School of Management. In 2007, he was an invited speaker on behalf of The McDonnell Chair in Business and Economics in honor of Dr. Gloria M. Payne during D&E’s Homecoming Weekend.
From 1984 through 1989, Eric served in the United States Marine Corps as an Air Traffic Controller and Tower Supervisor. While serving in the Marine Corps, Eric was awarded service citations in support of operations for Libya and Panama. His early career in business included many years working in retail operations and financial services, providing executive leadership for domestic and international financial institutions, credit card issuers and their clients.
In 2000, Eric joined IBM, and today, he is a recognized leader in IBM’s Retail Distribution practice. He currently serves as IBM’s Client Director for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., leading IBM’s worldwide Wal-Mart account team in sales and marketing strategy and developing international relationships in support of IBM’s global strategic initiatives for Wal-Mart. In 2007, Mr. Nilsen was awarded The Gerstner Award for Client Excellence, IBM’s highest client service award.
Eric holds a patent for his work in RFID technology for Systems and Methods of Point-of-Sale Activation of Consumer Electronics. The patent was earned while collaborating with IBM’s research and development teams, focusing on new methods for consumer access to electronic merchandise. Recent projects include changing the face of retail and banking through the use of emerging technologies and methodologies for new markets in Asia and the Americas.
Eric is advocate for education and reaches out through coaching, working with youth groups and speaking to groups in the public and private sector. He has taught Business Marketing, Total Quality Management and Organizational Behavior at the undergraduate level and has facilitated seminars on business and technology innovations for global audiences.
Laura Constantine, ’81
Tower Award
The Tower Award is presented to an alumnus or alumna for outstanding service to Davis & Elkins College and its alumni programs.
Laura Constantine graduated from Davis & Elkins College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, magna cum laude. As a student, Laura was active in student government, athletics, and social service organizations and was recognized for her academic achievement.
Laura was a student senator, a student tour guide, the Residence Hall Council secretary, and a member and officer of Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity. She was a member of the field hockey team, representative to the Panhellenic Council, and a Tau Kappa Epsilon Little Sister, elected to the Chi Beta Phi National Honorary Scientific Fraternity and the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, won the Zeta Tau Alpha Scholastic Achievement Award, Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation scholarship, and the Davis & Elkins Academic Achievement Award in Environmental Science. She also was named to the Dean’s List and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
After graduation, Laura received a Master of Science in Marine Environmental Science from the State University of New York, Stony Brook. She has contributed to her field for 23 years, and is a member of the National Association of Environmental Professionals and a former member of the Air and Waste Management Association. She has co-authored a paper in Waste Age Magazine and a chapter in a book on medical waste.
Constantine is the founder of D&E’s New York Metro Alumni Chapter and has organized events in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. She participated in the campus Career Day and hosted an alumni event in Rye, New York, and organized the Class of 1981’s 25th reunion. She took part in a focus group for the college’s marketing plan and joined a letter campaign to raise funds for the S. Benton Talbot Chair in the Natural Sciences. Currently, she is a member of the National Alumni Council, serving as Chair of the Administrative Committee and is a former chair of the Nominating Committee and co-chair of the Greek ad hoc Committee. She has created a Web site for the New York Metro alumni and continues to provide ideas, energy and excellent leadership to Davis & Elkins College.
Curtis L. Metten, ’00
Outstanding Young Alumnus
The Outstanding young alumnus award is presented to an alumnus who has graduated from Davis & Elkins College within the last 10 years and shows unusual promise in his/her profession and loyalty and commitment to the College.
Curtis Metten was an outstanding student at Davis & Elkins College, graduating with a degree in Physical Education and serving as Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach until 2000. He earned his Master of Science in Sports Administration from Eastern Kentucky University in 2002.
As a D&E student, Curtis was awarded the Joe Carroll Award for Outstanding Leadership in Athletics, and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for Outstanding Overall Senior. He was a four-year letterman with the Davis & Elkins College Men’s Basketball Team, playing from 1993-1998 and a three-year letterman in Baseball, playing from 1995-1998.
As Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach from 1998 to 2000, Curtis developed his skills in coaching, player recruitment and community relations. In 2000, he capped off his early D&E coaching years with his appointment as Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Star Planet Basketball European Tour to Belgium, Holland and Paris.
Curtis left Davis & Elkins in the fall of 2000 to become Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach, Director of Marketing, Camp Director, and Team Finance Advisor for Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. He took part in two Ohio Valley Conference Championships, and his team made an appearance at the NCAA Tournament in 2005. Curtis had the pleasure of seeing six players chosen for the All Ohio Valley Conference Team. At Eastern Kentucky, he managed equipment budgets, created Brand Awareness campaigns for the general public and campus community, organized team film exchange, coordinated team travel, negotiated team contracts with New Balance, and was named the director of the team Booster Club.
In 2007, Curtis returned to Davis and Elkins College as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach and Intramural Director, working closely with his former teammate and long-time friend, D&E Athletic Director and Men’s Basketball Head Coach Amrit Rayfield. He continues to
develop opportunities for marketing and promotion, recruitment and scouting, and is contributing to the ongoing growth and development of the Senator Athletic Program.
John Maffucci, ’54
Athletic Hall of Fame Award
Eligibility for nomination to the Davis & and Elkins College Athletic Hall of Fame begins five years after the person’s association with Davis and Elkins College has ended in the capacity that he/she is being considered for the Athletic Hall of Fame.
John Maffucci graduated from Davis & Elkins College in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. As a student, he played for renowned coach Press Maravich and also coached the Junior Varsity basketball team from 1952-1953, achieving a 12-0 record.
After graduation, John served in the US Air Force as an officer for two years. He played basketball under Coach Bob Spears, who was the first head basketball coach at the US Air Force Academy, and then had the privilege of coaching the base basketball team in 1955-1956 in Châteauroux, France, achieving a 21-6 record.
Returning to the United States, John began a successful 42-year career as the Director of Athletics for the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, San Diego County, California. He coached football (22 years), basketball (18 years), golf (25 years), baseball (12 years), and cross country (12 years), taking his teams to a combined 23 league titles and play in both state sectionals and state championships. His combined record in all sports was 703-500.
John has received several honors and awards for his contributions to coaching, beginning in 1956 when he
was selected as 2nd Team Coach of All France. In 1980, John was selected by the State of California to serve as Athletic Director of San Diego County. In 1991, he earned recognition for a “Record of Outstanding Accomplishments” from the San Diego High School Sports Association, and in 1994, the Army and Navy Academy football field was named for him. That same year, the city of Carlsbad designated October 28 as John Maffucci Day. In 1998, he was inducted into his hometown, New Rochelle, New York, Hall of Fame. And in 2001, he was selected to the San Diego Hall of Champions as a Coaching Legend. This year, 2008, he was chosen as head coach of two All Star basketball games, proof that John Maffucci’s coaching days, his lessons of hard work, and emphasis on being a team player may not be over.
Michele D. DeBerry, ’88
Athletic Hall of Fame
Michele DeBerry received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Davis and Elkins College in 1988. While attending D&E, she achieved an outstanding athletic record in softball, and also tennis, while also earning honors in academics and service to many College organizations.
In softball, Michele was named to the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Team in both 1985 and 1988 and to the WVIAC 2nd Team All Conference in 1986. During her junior year (1987), she was named to the WVIAC Tournament Team. Michele was named a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Scholar-Athlete in 1987 and 1988 and participated in the NAIA National Softball Tournament in 1985, 1987, and 1988. She was named an Academic All-American in 1987 by the United States Achievement Academy.
Her academic record at D&E is equally impressive. She graduated magna cum laude, with a cumulative GPA of 3.83. She was named to the Dean’s list all four years as an undergraduate and participated in the Honors Program from 1985-1988. Michele was a member of the Alpha Chi National Academic Honor Society and received an academic scholarship for the “top 10 incoming freshmen.” She was selected for the Academic Excellence in Education Award and was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1987 and 1988. In 1987 and 1988, Michelle was named one of the Outstanding Young Women in America.
Her dedication to campus and community service reflected the same level of commitment. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, serving as treasurer and second vice president, and played on the ZTA Intramural Football and Basketball Teams. She also was active in the Student National Education Association and was elected president for 1987 and 1988. She was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and voted Secretary of her Senior Class for 1987.
Michelle’s commitment to service and leadership continues today. An educator in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Michelle was named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for Laurel, Maryland, in 2006, and was a nominee for the Teacher of the Year Excellence in Education Award for her public school system. In addition, she volunteers for her church and other social service agencies to provide meals and school supplies to the homeless. A team player in every way, Michelle was and still is today, an exemplary reflection of what it means to be a part of Davis & Elkins College athletic program.
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