Posted by Mary Wimberley on 2009-04-30

Samford University's top student leaders were recognized Thursday, April 30, at the annual leadership and service convocation, and retiring vice president and dean of students Dr. Richard H. Franklin was honored with a named scholarship.

Grant Taylor Millsaps of Winston-Salem, N.C., won the James M. Sizemore Award as the student in the senior class who best demonstrates character, personality, scholarship and unselfish service to Samford.

Lee Ross of Pelham received the John R. Mott Award as the man in the graduating class who best represents high character, scholarship and student public service.

Alyson Dewell of Smyrna, Ga., received the Gail Hyle Memorial Award as the woman in the graduating class who best exemplifies Christian character, leadership, school spirit and service.

Natalie Jayne of Hoover and Carole Miller of Snellville, Ga., received Service Awards as graduating seniors who best exemplify qualities of social service.

Ben Telfair of Tallahassee, Fla., and Susan Hamm of Thorsby received Rufus Shelton awards as this year's male and female students who deserve special recognition for helping to improve campus life.

Lauren Howard of Vestavia Hills and Jeff Richter of Sanibel, Fla., received the Luke 2:52 awards given to two students who excel in all areas of student life, including academic social, spiritual and physical.

Caroline Noland of Boiling Springs, S.C., and Jeremy Towns of Dolomite received the Omicron Delta Kappa Freshman Leadership awards as the female and male students who showed exemplary character, leadership, service and scholarship during their first year at Samford.

Dr. Franklin, who retires in May after 19 years in his post, was presented special citations in appreciation of his service.

Samford Student Government Association president Bee Frederick announced the establishment of the Richard H. Franklin Servant Leader Scholarship, to be awarded to deserving students who exemplify special qualities of leadership.

The program included recognition of 13 new student members of ODK leadership honor society. They are: Stephen Bailey, Matt Campbell, Candace Clippard, Jonathan Haas, Stephanie Larson, Valerie Macon, Jere Mahaffey, Adam Murphy, Courtney Palmer, Josh Perkins, Lee Ross, Ashlyn Stallings and Megan Wilderotter. Cumberland School of Law professor Howard Walthall was recognized as a new faculty inductee.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.