67th annual Honors and Awards ceremony celebrates achievements from the 2025–26 academic year
Each year, the college’s Honors and Awards ceremony recognizes dozens of students, faculty, and staff for their accomplishments throughout the academic year. From academic achievement to acknowledgements of community service, the 67th annual Honors and Awards ceremony celebrated the best of the Lees-McRae community throughout the 2025–26 year.
Many Lees-McRae students are more than just learners, they are leaders on campus. One of the first major awards of the event was the Order of the Tower Award, which acknowledges a member of the college’s student leadership program for outstanding performance as an ambassador for the college. Winners are selected by their peers and receive a $1,000 scholarship for the upcoming academic year.
This year’s Order of the Tower Award was presented to junior Criminal Justice major Andrew Belcher.
The Sullivan Award is another honor that acknowledges leadership. The award, which is part of the college’s long-term partnership with The Sullivan Foundation, recognizes a graduating senior, alumni, or community member who exhibits a “nobility of character” and service to others.
This year’s Sullivan Award recipient was senior Rebecca Ryan, a Psychology and Outdoor Recreation Management double major.
“Her character is defined by resilience, empathy, and a quiet but powerful leadership,” President Lee King said of Ryan in his presentation of the award. “Throughout her time on the Lees-McRae women’s volleyball team, she emerged as a key leader who fostered team culture grounded in encouragement, mental health advocacy, and mutual support.”
The Fred I. Dickerson Award acknowledges students who succeed in another tricky balancing act, managing both athletic and academic responsibilities. The award is presented to the male and female student-athletes with the highest academic standing.
Academic Program Award Winners
Awards were presented to students in each academic program, nominated by their professors.
- Biology: Nicholas Van Rooyen
- Business Administration: Sean Green
- Business Administration (online): Patrick Gragg
- Communication Arts and Design: Lydia Pettit
- Criminal Justice: Hope Rosenfeld
- Criminal Justice (online): Matthew Bonestell
- Criminal Justice (graduate): Gavin Gray
- English: Mercedes Hawks
- Exercise Science: Benjamin Luna
- History Award: Kaiya Greig
- Human Services (online): Heather Smith
- Human Services (graduate ): Jessie Burgess
- Musical Theatre: Taylor Blecher
- Nutrition Science: Clara De Melo Duarte
- Outdoor Recreation Management: Finnbar Maloney
- Pre-Physical Therapy: Symone Taylor
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine: Campbell Dille
- Psychology: Laci Wiley
- Special Education: Macy Key
- Sport Management: Devon Davis
- Elementary Education (online): Lacy Greene
- Theatre Arts: EC Gibbons
- Wildlife Biology: Jedda Levy
- Wildlife Rehabilitation: Leah DiBello
- Wilderness Medicine and Rescue: Shelby Knaak
This year’s awards were presented to junior soccer player Jordan Bartlinkski and senior cyclist Nicholas Van Rooyen.
Perhaps the most prestigious awards at every Honors and Awards Ceremony, however, are the Edgar Tufts Humanitarian Service Awards. This award is given in spirit of the college’s founder, Rev. Edgar Tufts, and honors one student and one employee who exemplifies a life of service on campus, in the community, and beyond.
This year’s student award was presented to senior Outdoor Recreation Management and Wilderness Medicine and Rescue double major Peter Wallace. In addition to his studies, Wallace has served the community through his work with the Banner Elk Volunteer Fire Department and Beech Mountain Ski Patrol.
“What makes this story so fitting for this award is not what he has done, but why he has done it. He never sought recognition, he just simply found a way through early mornings, late-night calls, academic rigor, and a community crisis to live out his deepest values,” King said of Wallace in his presentation of the award.
The employee award for this year was presented to Head of Archives and Special Collections Ramona Hayes, who has worked at Lees-McRae for 42 years, meticulously cataloging and preserving this institution’s history in the Shelton Learning Commons.
“She is a resource for every person on this campus. One of her colleagues said, ‘She is more than deserving of an award to show how appreciated she is for giving her life to work at Lees-McRae,” King said of Hayes in his presentation of the award.
The Honors and Awards ceremony is an important time to celebrate not only the accomplishments of students, but the contributions and achievements of faculty and staff such as Hayes. Other faculty and staff award winners are as follows:
- Bridge Builders Award: Assistant Dean of Arts and Humanities Michael Iauch
- SGA Staff Award: Senior Director of Residence Life Richard Dellavechia
- Faculty Academic Advising Award: Program Coordinator for Business Administration (Online and Distance Learning) Charlie Calvert
- New Faculty Award: Program Coordinator for Exercise Science Jordan Johnson
- Edgar Tufts Faculty Award: Veterinarian and Assistant Professor of Wildlife Biology Miranda Torkelson
