UNC Law Alumni Association Celebrates 2025 Award Recipients

July 8, 2025

The UNC Law Alumni Association will honor eight exceptional individuals at its annual alumni awards presentation, celebrating members of the Carolina Law community who embody the School’s mission to serve the legal profession, the people and institutions of North Carolina, the nation, and the world with ethics and dedication to the cause of justice.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Henry Frye ’59

Henry Frye ’59 transformed North Carolina through groundbreaking achievements that opened doors for generations to follow. After serving as a Captain in the United States Air Force, Frye was inspired to pursue law when denied the right to register to vote due to unjust literacy tests. He made history as the first Black student to complete three years of coursework and graduate with his Juris Doctor from Carolina Law. His pioneering career reached new heights when he became the first Black justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1984, then shattered another barrier in 1999 as the first Black Chief Justice of the state’s highest court. Following his retirement from the bench, Frye continued practicing with Brooks Pierce until 2016.

Charles Brown ’66

Charles Brown ’66 built a distinguished practice at Brown and Senter, PLLC, specializing in civil litigation and estate planning while providing exceptional leadership throughout his career. A double Tar Heel, he twice served as president of the Stanly County Bar and twice led the multi-county judicial district Bar. His dedication to Carolina runs deep: he has served two terms on the UNC General Alumni Board, contributed to the Board of Visitors, and led the UNC Law Alumni Association as president. Today, he continues shaping North Carolina’s future as chairman of the Rural Infrastructure Authority under the Department of Commerce and as a board member of the Golden LEAF Foundation.

David Sentelle ’68

David Sentelle ’68 built an incredible judicial career that spans four decades and multiple levels of the federal court system. After graduating from Carolina Law and gaining experience in private practice, Sentelle joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, prosecuting cases in Charlotte and Asheville. His ascent through the judiciary began in 1974 with his appointment as North Carolina District Judge for Mecklenburg County. President Reagan recognized his talents, appointing him to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in 1985, then elevating him to the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit just two years later. Beyond the bench, Sentelle helped establish the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of the American Inns of Court, serving as both founding member and president.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Richard Myers ’88

Richard Myers ’88 has bridged academia and the judiciary, bringing scholarly excellence to the federal bench. As the Henry Brandis Distinguished Professor of Law at the School from 2004 to 2019, Myers became a nationally recognized authority on criminal law, evidence, and trial practice. His scholarship includes co-authoring the definitive Brandis & Broun on North Carolina Evidence and publishing extensively on constitutional criminal procedure. After graduating with high honors and serving as Articles Editor of the UNC School of Law Review, Myers clerked for Judge David Sentelle before practicing law and serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. In 2019, he was confirmed as Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, filling the longest-standing federal court vacancy.

Alison Grounds ’01

Alison Grounds ’01 revolutionized how the legal profession approaches technology and discovery in the digital age. As founder and managing partner of Troutman eMerge, she created an industry-leading subsidiary that provides end-to-end discovery services while pioneering the innovative use of artificial intelligence to reduce costs and streamline legal processes. Her expertise in eDiscovery law has earned national recognition, including the 2025 Legaltech News Monica Bay Women of Legal Tech Award and designation as an “AI Visionary” by Relativity. Grounds has cemented her position as a leader in legal technology, with Chambers Global USA recognizing her contributions to E-Discovery & Information Governance.

Carl Fox ’78

Carl Fox ’78 broke barriers and advanced justice throughout his distinguished career in prosecution and on the bench. After graduating from Carolina Law, Fox served as an assistant district attorney before making history in 1984 as the first Black district attorney in North Carolina. He continued his judicial service from 2006 to 2020 as a judge for both Chatham County and Orange County Superior Courts before establishing his private practice. Fox’s commitment to justice has been recognized through numerous honors, including the Lawyer of the Year Award from the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers and the MLK Community Service Award from the Southern Orange Black Caucus.

Emerging Leader Award

Isabelle Stevens ’21

Isabelle Stevens ’21 represents the future of military law and veterans’ advocacy. While at Carolina Law, Stevens made an immediate impact through the Military and Veterans Law Clinic, serving as primary attorney for veteran John Spencer in a case that restored his honor after five decades. Stevens and her team discovered Spencer had been wrongfully discharged on discriminatory grounds and was actually eligible for a Purple Heart and other military honors. Their dedicated work resulted in Spencer’s discharge upgrade and full restoration of benefits. Upon graduation, Stevens received a direct appointment into the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Now a Captain stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, she has excelled in roles ranging from legal assistance attorney to special victims counsel to her current position as military criminal prosecutor.

Professor S. Elizabeth Gibson Award for Faculty Excellence

Professor Thomas Lee Hazen

Professor Thomas Lee Hazen has shaped securities and corporate law education for over four decades at Carolina Law. Since joining the faculty in 1980 as the Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Law, Hazen has become a nationally recognized expert whose scholarship defines modern understanding of securities, commodities, and corporate law. His seven-volume treatise on securities regulation stands as the authoritative work in the field, while his corporate law treatise earned the Association of American Publishers award for best new legal book of 1995. With more than forty law review articles and co-authorship of multiple treatises on derivatives regulation and broker-dealer regulation, Hazen continues to influence legal education and practice through his frequent lectures at national continuing legal education programs.

The LAA will recognize these award recipients at the Carolina Club on October 3, 2025. All alumni, families, and friends are encouraged to save the date to celebrate this year’s distinguished honorees.