The College of Charleston Alumni Association is honoring a leader in dermatologic surgery, one of Hollywood’s leading ladies, ground-breaking attorney, an international photographer and a beloved professor. It is all happening at the 2009 Alumni Awards Banquet on November 12 at the Doubletree Historic Charleston.

Bill Moore, a faculty member of 37 years, is the recipient of the Alumni Award of Honor, the highest honor awarded by the College of Charleston Alumni Association. Moore was nominated in October 2008 – six months before he passed away in March 2009. He was a role model for the most important lesson of education: learning never stops. But he was more than a professor. Throughout his career, he built a national reputation as a scholarly expert on Southern politics. He served as speaker of the faculty, chair of the political science department, director of the MPA program, president of the Southern Conference and for 35 years he was the voice of Cougar basketball.

The Distinguished Alumna Award goes to Arlinda Locklear ‘73, an attorney specializing in Indian law. A political science major at the College of Charleston, Locklear received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1976. Interestingly enough, while in law school she won a national moot court competition, defeating Boston College student John Kerry. In 1983, she became the first Native American woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court – and she won the case! The Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes the alumna or alumnus who has contributed significantly to his or her profession, to his or her community or to the College during the past year.

Callie Shell ‘83 is the recipient of the Alumna of the Year Award in recognition of her exceptional photography as the official Time magazine photographer for the Obama campaign. Most of her admirers don’t realize that this talented photojournalist actually began her career as the photographer for the Comet yearbook at the College of Charleston. After graduating with a degree in political science, she started her career as a stringer for a newspaper in Tennessee. Eventually this led to a job with the Clinton-Gore campaign, and finally the job of official photographer for Vice President Al Gore. Her latest work, President Obama: The Path to the Whitehouse, is a collection of some of her most memorable campaign photography for Time magazine. In the book, Shell actually transforms news coverage into art. She has also just finished Obama’s 100 Days, Behind the Scenes Photos – another book for Time magazine.

A 2001 graduate will receive the Young Alumna of the Year Award. This past year, Margaret Anne Florence finished her stint in the lead role of an off-Broadway revival of The Fantasticks. She also appears in The New Daughter starring Kevin Costner. The movie, which was filmed at the College, is in post-production. Florence completed two films in 2008, and is featured in commercials for Pearle Vision, Captain Morgan, Walmart and Olive Garden that are currently running on television. She is receiving this award for having expressed the finest College traditions through service to her profession.

Dr. Jonathan L. Cook ‘88 is the recipient of the Pre-Medical Society’s Outstanding Service in Medicine Award. He completed his internship in internal medicine at Harvard Medical School and residency in dermatology at Emory University, which was followed by a fellowship in Mohs micrographic and dermatologic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Today, Jonathan Cook is a full professor of dermatology and director of dermatologic surgery at Duke University. He is a national leader in dermatologic surgery with a special emphasis on cutaneous oncology. He is also an assistant editor of the journal, Dermatologic Surgery. The award is sponsored by the Alumni Association, the School of Sciences and Mathematics, and the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Society, and recognizes a College of Charleston graduate whose practice of medicine – including dental, veterinary and related medical sciences – represents remarkable achievement, and who demonstrates an enduring commitment to the College and his or her community.

More information about the event, awards and recipients