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WC Emeritus Prof and Family Establish Student Awards

Kincaid Awards Presented for Fine Arts, Mathematics, Social Activism and Civic Engagement When Dr. Bill Kincaid retired in 2019 after a record 50 years as a full-time faculty member at Wilmington College, he left a legacy of outstanding mathematicians and math teachers serving American society as alumni of the institution. PICTURED: From the left are Penny Kincaid, Fae Maffin, Jennah Blair, Bill Kincaid, Gage Clemens, Jamirr Johnson and Taira Harris. That legacy continues to now involve successful, current WC students as the Kincaid family has established a number of awards to be presented to students who exemplify outstanding leadership, community service, talent in the arts and activism based on the College's Quaker values. [caption id="attachment_147109" align="alignright" width="350"] Bill, Penny and Russell Kincaid present the Jeffers-Kincaid Award for Excellence in Mathematics to Gage Clemens.[/caption] These attributes are represented in the Bill and Penny Kincaid/Becky Haines Theatre Award, Kincaid Award for Music, Jeffers-Kincaid Award for Excellence in Mathematics, Voice of Change Scholarship and the Eleanor Harris Community Action Scholarship. The students received cash awards for this recognition. Chip Murdock, director of the offices of Diversity + Inclusion and Service and Civic Engagement, praised the Kincaid family for its generosity and continuing commitment to WC students. "Bill made a great impact as a faculty member for 50 years and now, with his family, the Kincaids continue to affect the College community in very positive ways," he said. Fae Maffin received the theatre award based on her creativity and work ethic. Wynn Alexander, professor of theatre, described her as "a director's dream actor, who isn't afraid to take risks and always finds attention-grabbing ways to portray her characters." The senior from Nelsonville has been a regular on the Heiland Theatre stage with roles in Heathers, the Musical, Sordid Lives, Fierce: The Fearless Women of Shakespeare, Footloose, Twelve Angry Jurors and Puffs. [caption id="attachment_147110" align="alignleft" width="349"] Those associated with the music and theatre awards are, from the left, Penny Kincaid, Jennah Blair, Bill Kincaid, Fae Maffin and Becky Haines.[/caption] Senior Jennah Blair received the Kincaid Award for Music this spring. She is a standout vocalist with the College Chorale and WC Theatre's musicals, including last fall's Footloose in which she played the lead female actor, Ariel Moore. Also, she is a Quake Radio host for the program, Femalicious, and has been active with the Activities Programming Board and Faith in Action. Gage Clemens, a 2022 graduate, received the 2021-22 Jeffers-Kincaid Award for his excellence in mathematics, which he dual-majored in with psychology. Dr. Russell Kincaid, professor of mathematics, described Clemens as a "renaissance man" with many and varied interests that, outside academics, have included theatre, music, cross country and track. His name will be added to a plaque featuring annual award winners. Jaymirr Johnson won the Voice of Change Scholarship. The senior majoring in marketing holds a number of leadership positions at WC, including resident assistant, president of the Black Student Initiative and a Peer Mentor for the WC Connections program. Also, he is an inducted member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and a charter member of the WC Scholars of Promise program. [caption id="attachment_147112" align="alignright" width="349"] From the left are Chip Murdock, Penny Kincaid, Bill Kincaid, Jamirr Johnson, Tiara Harris and Eleanor Harris.[/caption] Tiara Harris received the 2021-22 Eleanor Harris Community Action Scholarship. The senior communications major has served as a tutor and office assistant for the community-based Harvest of Gold's after-school, reading assistance program for elementary school-aged students.