Each year, the Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership hosts an awards ceremony to recognize exemplary student leaders during their undergraduate or graduate careers at Samford. However, this year, the Mann Center chose to honor some of the university’s exceptional employees at the event as well.
“The development of outstanding graduates is directly related to the talent and dedication of a university’s faculty and staff,” University President Andrew Westmoreland said in his welcome address.
The collective recognition of student, faculty and staff leaders at a single event allowed all honorees and their respective instructors, administrators and families to celebrate together and gain a deeper understanding of both their interdependence and one another’s accomplishments.
Eleven undergraduate and graduate students were recognized with awards for their outstanding achievements in academics, commitment to character, ethical leadership and service to others.
Additionally, senior English and classics major Emily London was awarded the Mann Center’s Joe McDade Scholarship. The scholarship includes a one-time gift of $3,500 established by 1961 Samford alumnus Joe McDade.
“It was a joy to hear about Mr. McDade’s legacy at Samford through the work of the Mann Center and to be among friends and peers who have achieved so much. I am humbled that Mr. McDade chose to honor me with this scholarship to support my plans to pursue theological training at Beeson Divinity School as I discern a vocational call to ministry,” London said.
Seven faculty and two staff members were honored as the center’s 2018-19 class of the Mann Fellows in Community-Based Learning. The class of fellows participated in a year-long series of five seminars designed to equip participants with the skills and support needed to plan and implement new or re-designed community-based learning courses and initiatives.
The Mann Center’s Director of Community Engagement, Allison Nanni, commended all honorees on their dedication to the university’s mission encouraging them to continue a lifelong faith walk of service to others. Westmoreland echoed Nanni’s challenge to always persevere, “Success is a few big breaks preceded by a million little things. Keep doing those million little things.”
2019 Mann Center Student Awardees:
Zachary Curren, McWhorter School of Pharmacy (McCalla, Alabama)
Harrison Hansard, Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing (Lilburn, Georgia)
Abigail Hawkins; Orlean Beeson School of Education, Secondary Education (Paducah, Kentucky)
Tom Holsteen; Beeson Divinity School, Master of Divinity (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Bray Jones; School of Public Health, Public Health (Montgomery, Alabama)
Emily London; Howard College of Arts and Sciences, English and Classics (Macon, Georgia)
Brooke Messina, Cumberland School of Law (Hoover, Alabama)
Claire Peeler; School of Health Sciences, Speech Language Pathology (Covington, Tennessee)
Memory Smith; School of the Arts, Graphic Design (Scottsboro, Alabama)
Caleb Strawn; Brock School of Business, Economics Major (Lilburn, Georgia)
Kyle Stuart; Brock School of Business, Finance (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
2018-2019 Mann Center Faculty Fellows in Community-based Learning:
Dr. Lisa Battaglia; Associate Professor, Howard College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Sherri Chatman; Assistant Professor, Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing
Dr. Rachel Hagues; Assistant Professor, School of Public Health
Dr. Kristen Johnston; Assistant Professor, Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing
Dr. Beth McGinnis; Assistant Professor, School of the Arts
Dr. Pilar Murphy; Associate Professor, McWhorter School of Pharmacy
Dr. Hollea Ryan; Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions
2018 - 2019 Mann Center Staff Fellows in Community-based Learning:
Laura Breedlove; Director of Student Leadership and Involvement, Student Affairs
Michelle Little; Director of Oral History Program, Oral History