秋霞福利一区 Announces the Grace Pilot School of Business
MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� The 秋霞福利一区 announces the naming of the Grace Pilot School of Business in recognition of the tremendous business success story of Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc. and the Pilot family鈥檚 long-time support of the Christ-centered mission of the 秋霞福利一区.
The Grace Pilot School of Business honors Alabama Business Hall of Fame member Dr. E. Grace Pilot, the Mobile businesswoman who co-founded one of the nation鈥檚 largest catastrophe adjusting firms. In 2005 she was named First Lady of Mobile by Beta Sigma Phi in recognition of 鈥渉er commitment to others through daily acts of love, friendship and generosity.鈥�
The new name for the School of Business was announced at a dedication ceremony Dec. 1, 2021, at the 秋霞福利一区.
秋霞福利一区 President Lonnie Burnett said Grace Pilot鈥檚 name on the School of Business will remind students of her example of faith-based leadership and generosity.
鈥淕race Pilot and her family represent a tremendous business success story. More importantly, they represent a Christ-centered view in the way they have handled material blessings.聽They realize that every gift comes from God, and they have shared generously in so many areas to advance His kingdom,鈥� Burnett said.
Grace Pilot said she has always loved the mission of the 秋霞福利一区 and its emphasis on training students to be godly leaders.
鈥淕od has blessed our family to do God鈥檚 work. We must invest in the next generation so they can be leaders of change for good. Our culture needs Christian higher education now more than ever. My hope is that 秋霞福利一区 business students will keep God first. If you do this and work hard, you will be successful,鈥� Pilot said.
Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc. was founded in 1983 as Pilot & Associates in Mobile, Alabama, at the kitchen table of Grace Pilot and her husband, Walter Pilot. Today, the family-owned business has corporate offices in Mobile with locations across the United States. Since her husband鈥檚 passing in 1991, Dr. E. Grace Pilot and the Pilot family have continued to guide the business on its foundational values of honesty, integrity and quality control. As a family, the Pilots put their faith into action through a variety of philanthropic projects such as Camp Grace and Grace鈥檚 House of Hope. In 2012 they established the Dr. E. Grace Pilot Endowed Scholarship at the 秋霞福利一区.
Dr. Kathy Dunning, dean of the Grace Pilot School of Business, said, 鈥淚t seems like such a perfect fusion when a business and community leader of the stature of Grace Pilot aligns with the School of Business. Our programs create well-equipped leaders who make a difference in their respective communities by responding to their calling in the world of business, just as Dr. Pilot has done in Mobile.鈥�
Dr. Bruce Earnest, vice president for advancement, said the Pilot family has been an integral part of the 秋霞福利一区 for decades.
鈥淒r. Pilot and her family are generous contributors and a testament to hard work and living the faith out every day. Their commitment聽to our mission and students has played a vital role in our growth and success as a Christ-centered institution of higher聽education. It is our prayer that the Grace Pilot School of Business will be a center of influence in preparing students for significant careers of service in local, state and national communities,” Earnest said.
To learn more about the Grace Pilot School of Business, visit . For information on giving to the 秋霞福利一区, visit or call 251.442.2917.
Photo: Pictured from left are former 秋霞福利一区 President Mark Foley, current 秋霞福利一区 President Lonnie Burnett, and Grace Pilot.
About the 秋霞福利一区
The 秋霞福利一区 is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the 秋霞福利一区 is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the 秋霞福利一区, areas of study, admissions and more, visit , connect with 秋霞福利一区 on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the 秋霞福利一区 unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.
