BSC Honors Day ceremony recognizes student, faculty, and staff achievement

For Immediate Release
May. 11, 2017

Honors Day 2017

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Birmingham-Southern College held its annual Honors Day celebration Thursday, May 11, to recognize graduating seniors, other students, faculty, and staff for their scholarly achievements, leadership, and service.

The Honors Day Convocation featured an academic procession, a performance by the BSC Concert Choir, and inspirational messages for the graduating class. It was followed by the 24th annual Honoring Scholarship Conference, during which students present their research projects and creative endeavors to cap off their undergraduate careers.

In his keynote address to the Class of 2017, Rev. Hill Carmichael, a 2002 BSC psychology graduate and executive director of the lauded inner-city organization Urban Ministry, talked about how volunteering as a neighborhood tutor while he was a student changed his life path.

“Today I am grateful that Birmingham-Southern helped teach me what is most valuable in life: relationships,” Carmichael told the crowd in Munger Auditorium. “Particularly relationships with people who look and live and worship and vote differently than you do. Not because I have something to teach them... but because they have something to teach me.”

Steve Briggs ’71, who received BSC’s Medal of Service Award for his lifetime of extraordinary service to his alma mater, also acknowledged the relationships he developed with professors and friends as a student have helped shape him. He was joined on the stage by BSC President Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith, BSC Interim Provost Dr. Susan Hagen, Student Government Association President and graduating senior Caroline Irby, special guest Dr. Donald C. Harrison, whose generous donation established an endowment to support BSC’s Harrison Honors Program, and others.

During the afternoon following the awards ceremony, students from disciplines across campus presented their senior research projects. Subjects included: a feminist analysis of Beyonce’s Lemonade; the impact of sleep on athletic performance; a research study on start-up business looking at southern bakeries; a look at efforts to end food deserts in Ensley; poster presentation in the natural and social sciences; artistic exhibitions and presentations; and musical performances.

Campus-wide honors bestowed at the ceremony included:

The Donald C. Harrison Honors Program Senior Award recognizes one, or a small group, of its senior members in the Honors Program who show overall academic excellence and a commitment to interdisciplinary study: Dala Eloubeidi
The Hess Center for Leadership and Service Distinction in Leadership Studies Award is given to students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a commitment to the betterment of society, and a willingness to serve others: Mara Scarbrough
The William Legg Award is presented to a senior student-athlete who plans to attend graduate school: Ethan Arnold
The Alpha Lambda Delta Book Award recognizes graduating members of the national honor society with the highest grade point average: Allison Young
The Alpha Lambda Delta Scholarship Award is given to outstanding junior members of the national honor society: Allison Dawson
The Henry C. Randall Advisor of the Year Award is presented to a faculty or staff member who advises a student organization: Dr. William Holt
The Student Center for the Public Trust “Campus Being a Difference” Student Award honors an individual who exhibits personal values and actions that demonstrate integrity and ethics: Matthew Lovell
The Student Center for the Public Trust “Campus Being a Difference” Faculty Award honors an individual who exhibits personal values and actions that demonstrate integrity and ethics: Prof. John Lytle Wilson ’99
The Excellence in Library Research Award is presented to a first- or second-year student who submits a Southern Academic Review paper that best shows the breadth, depth, and understanding of research: Hannah Scofield
The Nancy and Billy McDonald Outstanding Servant Leader Award is presented to an outstanding servant and leader: Dala Eloubeidi
The Dudley Long Leadership Award is established by the SGA to recognize a group or student whose efforts during the year added to campus life: Tracey Vu
The President's Service Award is presented to members of the campus community who show commitment, character, service, and leadership: Dr. Sara Robicheaux ’97, Caroline Irby, Queenie Hawkins, BSC Phonathon team, Fay Morton, and Dr. Susan Hagen
The Turnipseed-Ikenberry Scholarship is awarded to rising juniors majoring in physics, mathematics, or history with outstanding academic achievement: Edmund White
The Omicron Delta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes a faculty member who has attained excellence in all aspects of teaching: Dr. Maria Stadnik
The United Methodist Church Exemplary Teacher Award is given to the faculty member who is well-respected by his colleagues: Dr. Barbara Domcekova
The Richebourg Gaillard McWilliams Faculty Scholarship Award is given to an outstanding faculty member who has excelled in scholarship: Dr. Jason Heaton
The Hubbs Award recognizes a student who exemplifies academic excellence and selfless service: Kayla Smith
The Robert Hewlin Jackson Achievement Award is given to the graduating student who has shown the greatest academic improvement and made a distinguished record in his or her junior and senior years: Marilyn Rowell
The Robert Hewlin Jackson Meritorious Scholarship Award recognizes students whose overall record places them at the top of their graduating class: Allison Young
The Charles B. Vail College Fellows Program provides stipends or academic credit for students to serve as teaching or research partners with faculty: Thomas Baugh, Darby Burgess, Lara Collier, Lloyd Doyle, Conner Hayes, Caroline Hyde, Veena Krishnan, Caralyn Patton, Amy Pecot, Adam Pratt, Ante Rebic, and Henry Stephenson
Nine graduating seniors were elected to Phi Beta Kappa, the national academic honor society, this spring: Catherine Bowers, James Collins, Tanner Dixon, Dala Eloubeidi, David Goodloe, Caroline Hyde, Sean Moran, Adam Pratt, and Frances Williams

About Birmingham-Southern College:
Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution in Birmingham, Ala., founded in 1856 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It enrolls about 1,300 students from more than 30 states and 15 foreign countries.