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Virginia Kongos Selected for Robert Lucas Leadership Award

Students Recognized for Leadership at Honors Convocation President Trevor Bates described graduating senior Virginia Kongos as exemplifying the College's mission-related outcome of "living a life of service and success." He made this observation in presenting her with the Robert E. Lucas Leadership Award at Monday's (April 25) 41st annual Honors Convocation and Senior Recognition Awards. PICTURED: Virginia Kongos reacts to receiving the College's highest honor for student leadership, the Robert E. Lucas Leadership Award. BELOW: President Trevor Bates congratulates Joshua Cyrus for receiving a Quaker Impact Award. The Lucas Award recognizes the apex of leadership by a member of the senior class. Kongos' leadership resume includes serving as student director of the Activities Programming Board (APB), a science tutor and supplemental instruction provider, student worker in Watson Library, New Student Orientation leader, president of Faith in Action and a leader with the Quaker Thunder Pep Band. Kongos, a December 2021 graduate, also received the APB Distinguished Service Award. Brittanie Clair received a number of leadership awards including one in appreciation for her service as Student Government Assn. (SGA) president, the SGA Distinguished Service Award and the Quaker Leadership Legacy Award for Students. The latter award recognizes students who exemplify the College's Quaker core values and was established in honor of former WC President Jim and First Lady Sue Reynolds. Chloe Mason earned both the Excellence in Community Service and Civic Engagement Award and recognition for Excellence in the Quaker Leader Scholars Program. Ajia Gannaway garnered the Karen Couch Residence Life Award while Caroline Liggett took home the award for Excellence in the Wilmington College Honors Program In awards voted on by students, Dr. Chad McKay, associate professor of agriculture, received the Teaching Excellence Award while Chip Murdock, director of the Office of Diversity + Inclusion, received the Quaker Leadership Legacy and the Van Black awards. The latter recognizes an employee for contributions made toward the development of WC students. The Quaker Impact Award recognizes seniors who have a minimum 2.75 grade point average, have demonstrated significant leadership within campus organizations and extra-curricular activities, have been active in community involvement and have demonstrated future leadership potential. This year's inductees are: Collmann Aaron, Shawndale Arrington, Carley Asher, Kyle Barrett, Sabrina Bowman, Gage Clemens, Haley Conley, Joshua Cyrus, Lucy Elizabeth Enge, Grace Ewing, Sydney E. Fuller, Ajia Gannaway, Riley Gatlin, Parker C.H. Gunkel, Maryn Herring, Chyann Kendel, Gabriel King, Virginia Kongos, Kennedy Lewis, Caroline Liggett, McKenna Lorton, Chloe Mason, Benjamin Petrey, Jaden D. Proffitt, Abigail Spirk, Robert Stubbs, Hayley Suchland, Maya Wahrhaftig, Blaine Weaver, Brandon Weaver, DeLanie Weber, Evan Whitaker and Chandler Wren. In saluting all those students for their leadership and service, the president issued two challenges. "First, always find a way to give back and, second, good leaders find ways to be effective followers. It is important to recognize our role as leaders is to help everyone succeed."