Three members of the Poole College community were recognized for their leadership, service and impact at the second annual NC State Honors celebration on Sept. 10.

Robert F. “Chip” Andrews III ’66 received the Jerry and Elizabeth Godwin Red Torch Award, while Stanhope A. “Stan” Kelly ’80 received the Watauga Medal, NC State’s highest nonacademic honor. Marie Arcuri, a two-time Poole graduate, was also celebrated as the recipient of Poole College’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Together, the three honorees represent decades of leadership and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for others at Poole, NC State and beyond.

Investing in Entrepreneurship

Chip Andrews received the Godwin Red Torch Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to NC State through volunteer service.

A longtime NC State volunteer and supporter, Andrews built a successful career in consulting and investment banking, eventually serving as chairman and CEO of FMI Corporation before retiring in 2014. He has remained deeply engaged with NC State, serving on numerous boards and committees, including the Wolfpack Investor Network Board, NC State Investment Fund Members Board and NC State Board of Trustees.

His impact is particularly evident at Poole, where he and his wife Lyn have championed entrepreneurship. Their $1 million gift established the Andrews Launch Accelerator (ALA), which provides equity-free seed funding to startups through Poole’s Entrepreneurship Clinic.
As the ALA marks its 10th anniversary this year, the couple announced another $1 million gift on NC State’s Day of Giving to establish an endowment that will fund the program in perpetuity.

Through the couple’s generosity, the accelerator has helped generations of NC State entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into growing ventures, extending their family’s impact well beyond campus.

A Lifetime of Leadership

Stan Kelly received the Watauga Medal, presented by the NC State Board of Trustees to individuals whose leadership, service and advocacy have made an exceptional impact on the university.

Kelly earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from what is now Poole College. His career included executive leadership roles at Wachovia Corp. and Wells Fargo, including serving as president. He later served as president and CEO of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, where he developed Carolina Core, an economic development initiative that has helped attract billions of dollars in investment to central North Carolina.

His service to NC State has been equally extensive. Kelly has chaired the NC State Board of Trustees and served on the Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund and the NC State University Foundation Board. He and his family have also supported scholarships, Poole College and other university initiatives, including establishing the Stan and Liz Kelly Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Endowment.

“To be recognized with an award named after the Watauga Club, visionaries who believed in the limitless potential of public higher education, is a profound honor,” Kelly said. “I accept this award not just for what I have been privileged to do, but as a tribute to what this university gave to me: a career, a family, friends and a purpose.”

Putting People First

Marie Arcuri received Poole College’s Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing a career of professional achievement, leadership and service.

A graduate of Poole’s business management and accounting programs, Arcuri began her career with Coopers & Lybrand before returning to her hometown of Winston-Salem to join the automotive business her father founded in 1958.

Today, she is owner and dealer principal of Flow Lexus of Winston-Salem and Flow Lexus of Greensboro, where she leads strategic planning, operations and organizational growth. Her leadership reflects a philosophy she sums up simply: “I am in the people business.” Throughout her career, Arcuri has invested in relationships, created opportunities for others and mentored women in their professional growth.

Her commitment to service extends across North Carolina. Arcuri has served organizations including the NC State Board of Trustees, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and Brenner Children’s Hospital. She currently serves as president of the Senior Services Foundation and on the Board of Visitors of Brenner Children’s Hospital.

Through entrepreneurship, economic development, business leadership and service, Andrews, Kelly and Arcuri have each built a legacy that reflects the impact Poole graduates can have on their communities and beyond.