Outstanding alumni honored for their service to the college

Along with other traditions held during Homecoming, each year the Alumni Association presents the recipients of the alumni awards.

This year’s three awards included the Captain’s Class Agent Award, the Alumni Service Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award. All the awards were announced during the Green and Gold Brunch on Saturday, Oct. 5 and again during the men’s soccer game halftime later that afternoon.

The Captain’s Class Agent Award—given to the class with the highest percentage of class participation—was presented to the class of 1959.

The Alumni Service Award was presented to Frankie Needham ’55H. Having recently retired in May, Needham’s 47-year tenure marked the longest-ever employment of the college. At a gathering during the Frolic weekend in July celebrating Needham’s legacy, the formerly-named Alumni House was unveiled as the Frankie Ramsey Needham Alumni House.

To be considered for the Alumni Service Award an individual must meet the following criteria: be an alumnus/a of Lees-McRae College, provide significant service to the college and/or the Lees-McRae Alumni Association, demonstrate a continuing interest in Lees-McRae by attending alumni events on and off campus and by contributing time, energy, or money to programs of the institution, and manifest and commend the hallmarks of the Lees-McRae graduate in his/her life.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Amy Beane ’96. The co-founder and creative director of the Beanstalk Community Theatre in Boone, North Carolina, Beane’s work provides children with the opportunity to experience theatre free of charge. Many Beanstalk Community Theatre alumni have even gone on to pursue the craft professionally.

To be considered for the Distinguished Alumni Award an individual must meet the following criteria: be an alumnus/a of Lees-McRae College, demonstrate a respectable profession or life mission for which the college is exceptionally proud, distinguish himself or herself in business, life work, or worthy endeavor, and manifest and commend the hallmarks of the Lees-McRae graduate in his/her life.