The Annual Spring Awards Ceremony was held April 20 on the Founders Lawn at 6 p.m.
“This is an important annual event in the life at the college where we encourage all members of the community to join in the celebration of the great successes of our students,” said Leslie Moss, Associate Director of Student Activities and the First Year Program. Moss organized the event asshe has for the past three years.
A group of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the college made up the majority of the audience. Many students came to receive recognition, and many more to cheer on fellow students
“All … bring gifts that lift up this entire (community),” said Max Carter, Director of the Friends Center/Campus Ministry Coordinator, as he opened the program with a moment of silence.
College president Kent Chabotar gave welcoming remarks, then various members of the college community presented individual college awards.
Most of the awards had a distinguished history, and have been awarded to students for 20 years or longer. New Dana Scholars were announced, along with the names of students who had received departmental honors throughout the academic year.
In addition, 30 students received some 20 awards. Qualifications for the awards ranged from academics and leadership to artistic talent and community service
Vice President and Academic Dean Adrienne Israel closed the ceremony by reflecting on her youth and the excitement of receiving such honors. “I said I got those awards because I deserved them, (but) that’s not why you get awards,” Israel said.
“Yes, you may be gifted … but if someone doesn’t decide to give to others, to help someone else who they will never see, the awards will not exist. Understand what it really means to get an award: They were wise enough to put something aside for the future.”
The awards ceremony ended with the audience singing the school Alma Mater, led by senior Paige Scoltock. A complete list of all awards and honors recognized during the ceremony can be found on the Guilford College website at http://www.guilford.edu/newsEvents/index.cfm?ID=600004780.