Mars Hill University Recognizes Students and Employees for Service to the Community

May 1, 2024

Mars Hill University presented awards to several students and employees for their service to the university and to others. The awards were given during the annual University Awards and Recognitions celebration on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Michael Emory Award recipient: Lacey Scott (right), with Michael’s widow, Teresa Emory

Lacey Scott, a sophomore business administration major from Hickory, North Carolina, received the Michael Emory Award. The award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates Christ-like compassion, loyalty, and service to the economically, socially, or emotionally oppressed and diligent pursuit of truth and justice, even when such pursuit may be unpopular. The award is given in honor of “Big Mike” Emory, Mars Hill College class of 1985, whose life exemplified the criteria of the award. “Big Mike” was in seminary preparing for a life of ministry when a tragic accident led to his untimely death.

Daniel Hudgins Award recipient: Rakiyan Moss, with Daniel’s parents, Scott Hudgins and Mary Foskett

Rakiyan Moss, a senior psychology major from Sharpsburg, Georgia, received the Daniel Hudgins Award. This award honors the memory of Daniel Hudgins, a Mars Hill University student of great vitality, leadership capacity, and promise who lost a courageous battle to cancer in 2022 during his senior year. The award is presented to a graduating student in the helping professions.

Judah Barak, a music performance major from Mars Hill, North Carolina, received the Joe Chris and Donna Robertson Award. The award recognizes a fine-arts student with a strong commitment to his or her chosen field, promise in the fine arts, and demonstrated service to the arts, Mars Hill University, and the community. It is given in memory of Joe Chris Robertson, who taught at Mars Hill for four decades and was chair of the music department, and Donna N. Robertson, former college organist and associate professor of music.

I. Ruth Martin Award recipient Jackie Jolley, with President Floyd

Jackie Jolley, a Mars Hill resident, received the I. Ruth Martin Award. The award was established by I. Ruth Martin, a member of the Mars Hill College class of 1938, to be given to an individual who has served faithfully without any spotlight recognition. Jolley was recognized for her tireless behind-the-scenes volunteer efforts in support of the university, its students, and visitors.

G. McLeod Bryan Award recpients: Nicole Soper Gorden (faculty/staff), Lauren Sermersheim (student)

Senior Lauren Sersheim of Asheville, North Carolina, a double-major in community and nonprofit leadership and in religion, and Nicole Soper Gorden, an associate professor of biology and botany, received this year’s G. McLeod Bryan Awards. The Bryan Awards are given annually in honor of the late Dr. G. McLeod (“Mac”) Bryan, who was a member of the Mars Hill class of 1939 and a professor at Wake Forest University. Bryan worked tirelessly for the cause of peace and justice, and influenced countless others to do the same. The Bryan Awards recognize members of the university community who make significant contributions to a better community and a better world. The campus community recognizes one student and one faculty or staff member each year who has made a positive impact on the community, whose involvement with a community partner is ongoing, whose action in the community is directed at serious social challenges, and whose work connects the campus to a community partner.

Salt and Light Award recipients: (l-r) Judith Harris, Wendy Dover, Lovelle Williams, Amanda Acosta, Clark Lawson, Zoe Rumley

The university also recognized several members of the campus community with Salt & Light Awards. Those awards are presented in recognition of those who contribute in often-unrecognized ways to making Mars Hill University a better place to live, work, and play. This year’s recipients are Clark Lawson, a first-year student from Richmond, Kentucky; Zoe Rumley, a senior recreation and sport management major from Pleasant Garden, North Carolina; Lovelle Williams, a junior visual arts major from Duluth, Georgia; and faculty and staff members Amanda Acosta, Wendy Dover, and Judith Harris.

Tuesday’s program also included recognitions of outgoing student body president Ava Wright of Morganton, North Carolina; graduating seniors in the Alpha Chi National Honor Society; and the 2024 University Marshals.

Graduating Alpha Chi members:
Tiffany Breden, Morganton, North Carolina
Faith Giles, Boone, North Carolina
Brogan Heavner, Asheville, North Carolina
Courtney Hodges, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Chase Jorensen, Hartwell, Georgia
Ellie McLain, Church Hill, Tennessee
Steve Papakonstantinou, Asheville, North Carolina
Samantha Reeves, Inman, South Carolina
Lauren Sermersheim, Asheville, North Carolina
Haley Stallings, Rock Hall, Maryland
Madison Thomas, New Bern, North Carolina
Sarah Wheeler, Oxford, North Carolina
Bailey Whitehead-Price, Boone, North Carolina

Several of the 2024 University Marshals

2024 University Marshals:
Jordan Hulsey, Sanford, North Carolina, chief marshal
Scott Thomas Casagrande, Bunn, North Carolina
Madison Rena Gillie, Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Haley Nicole Hargus, Zirconia, North Carolina
Cassidy Kristine Hull, Mount Airy, North Carolina
Carla Humera, Panama City, Panama
Christina Elisabeth Hunter, Otto, North Carolina
Laela Aiyanna Jimenez, Naples, Florida
Christopher Alexander Kooken, Mars Hill, North Carolina
Collin Dabney Maides, Greenville, South Carolina
Ashlin Mathews, Cleveland, Tennessee
Antonia Rae Morgan, Waxhaw, North Carolina
Kelly Ann Pack, Alexander, North Carolina
Caroline Mary-Eliza Rizzo, Flagler Beach, Florida
Jordan Elizabeth Speece, Lewisville, North Carolina
Kathryn Elizabeth Todd, Cary, North Carolina
Ava Ariel Wright, Morganton, North Carolina