Posted by Mary Wimberley on 2008-04-24

Samford University recognized top student leaders at its annual leadership and service convocation Thursday, April 24.

Robert Tyler Howell of Haleyville received the James M. Sizemore Award as the student in the senior class who has best demonstrated character, personality, scholarship and unselfish service to Samford. Howell has served as 2007-08 student body president.

Robert Moss Smith III of Pensacola, Fla., received the John R. Mott Award as the man in the graduating class who best represents high character, scholarship and student public service.

Emily Goette of Chattanooga, Tenn., received the Gail Hyle Memorial Award as the woman in the graduating class who best exemplifies Christian character, leadership, school spirit and service.

Lyndsay Cogdill of Lakeland, Fla., received the Service Award as the graduating senior who best exemplifies qualities of social service.

Katherine Gronewald of Marietta, Ga., and Robert Miller of Glasgow, Ky., received Rufus Shelton awards as this year's female and male students who have most helped to improve campus life and are worthy of special recognition.

Emily Aiken of Johnson City, Tenn., and Landon Eckhardt of Hurst, Texas, received the Luke 2:52 awards that are given to two students who excel in all areas of student life, including academic, social, spiritual and physical.

The program included the induction of 21 new members into the Samford chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society. They are: Jeanne Cross, John Derrick, Landon Eckhardt, Angela Fister, Sarah Fort, Payden George Montgomery, Kylie Harmon, Bradley Johnson, Caroline Johnson, Jordan Jones, Shanna Killebrew, Katelyn Luckman, Sam McBride, Carole Miller, Melissa Plash, Salianne Prothro, Mallory Siler, Christopher Smith, Bennett Sumner, Mallory Tyler and William Weaver.

 
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 6,101 students from 45 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.