It’s that time of year again when Stetson faculty, staff and students can nominate the graduating senior you feel is the most deserving of the Stetson University senior awards. Your nominations will be tallied to ultimately determine who will be honored at this year’s commencement ceremonies.

Nominations for two awards and three commencement speakers are to be submitted via this nomination form, which will be posted on the official Commencement 2014 website. Nominations remain anonymous. The deadline for nominations is March 31.

The information that is needed for your nomination includes:

• Name of Person being nominated
• What category:
  • Etter McTeer Turner Award
  • Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
  • Senior Speaker, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Senior Speaker, School of Business Administration
  • Senior Speaker, School of Music
• Why they are being nominated

Information on each award and speaker is below:

The McTeer Turner Award

Presented during the May undergraduate commencement ceremonies, The Etter McTeer Turner Award recognizes the graduating senior who has achieved the highest standard of excellence in academic performance, leadership, community service, personal character, and integrity. The award was initiated by the J. Ollie Edmunds family, through the Gualala Foundation, to honor the service of the late Etter McTeer Turner, Stetson’s first woman Dean of Students. It provides a companion student award to the William Hugh McEniry Excellence in Teaching Award, also established by the Edmunds family to recognize deserving faculty. One student is selected for the McTeer Turner Award.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards are presented annually at the University Honors Convocation to the man and the woman in the May graduating class who best represent the qualities described below. This prestigious award generally is considered among the highest recognition given to a graduating senior and is given at many universities jointly by the institution and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation in New York. The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was created nearly 100 years ago to honor Mr. Sullivan’s life of service to others. The awards are given annually by the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation to recognize individuals whose “nobility of character” and dedication to service set them apart as examples for others.

Senior Speaker – Commencement

For this year’s commencement ceremonies, three senior speakers will be chosen: one from the College of Arts and Sciences, one from the School of Business Administration, and one from the School of Music. Senior Speakers typically are students with a solid academic record who have made significant contributions to the Stetson community through leadership and cocurricular involvement. They represent students who have fully engaged in the educational experience while at Stetson. The information provided within the nomination will be used to select 18 semifinalists (6 from College of Arts and Sciences, 6 from School of Business, 6 from School of Music). The semifinalists for Senior Speaker will be notified and asked to submit an application which includes a description of the topic and a brief outline of their address. Nine finalists will be chosen to present their proposed speeches to a committee of faculty, staff and students for selection. It is acceptable for students to nominate themselves for Senior Commencement Speaker.

For more info on the award nominations and commencement, please visit the official Commencement website.

By Maurie Murray