Randolph-Macon College’s annual Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Leadership Awards ceremony was held on May 2, 2022 in Birdsong Hall. Founded in 1914, ODK is a national leadership honor society that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership, and exemplary character.

The RMC charter of ODK was founded in 1933. Membership is awarded to elected undergraduate juniors and seniors whose cumulative grade point average places them in the top 35% of the RMC student population. Candidates must also demonstrate leadership in at least one of the five phases of campus life in order to be selected: scholarship; athletics; campus community service, social and religious activities, and campus government; journalism, speech, and the mass media; and creative and performing arts.

President Robert R. Lindgren set the tone for the awards with a quote attributed to President John F. Kennedy: “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”  He went on to celebrate the learning the students honored had gained through their leadership on campus. “I am delighted that we take time to acknowledge and celebrate you, our student leaders, and the positive differences you have made and are making on this campus, in our communities, and in our world. And, keep in mind that you, my friends, are just getting started!” he said.

The following awards were given:

Students of Excellence: Tristen Craig ’24 and Ty Mills ’22

The B.J. Seymour Award: April Marchetti ’97, Ph.D.

Outstanding Service to the SGA Award: Jami-Reese Darling ’22

Asbury Christian Award: Mel Fleischer ’23

Jewish Campus Life: Marissa Marczak ’25

Leadership (group): Yellow Jacket Ambassadors

The Rodney Bardwell Service Award: SERVE

Outstanding Student Event: Commons Activities Board: First Fridays

Outstanding Organizational Advisor: Lauren Bell, Ph.D.

Freshman Leadership: William Ryder ’25

Sophomore Leadership: Lilly Bull ’24

Junior Leadership: DQ Tracy ’23

Outstanding Seniors: Ryan Aud ’22, Josh Brown ’22, McCray Fidler ’22, Hannah Gargus ’22, Emma Reilly ’22, and Cully Wilkins ’22

Leadership (individual): Katie Herzberger ’23

The Darrell Headrick Service Award: Justin Peck ’23

The Janet Harvey Trivette ’78 & W. Proctor Harvey, Jr. Endowed Student Award was established in 2007 to honor alumna Janet Harvey Trivette ’78 and her brother W. Proctor Harvey, Jr. The award selection is based upon demonstration of Janet Harvey Trivette’s and W. Proctor Harvey’s distinctive characteristics of compassion, generosity of spirit, and leadership. This award carries a cash prize in addition to recognition.

Dean Grant Azdell presented the award to seniors Jace DePriest ’22 and Taylor Cox ’22. In doing so, he praised DePriest, a member of the men’s football team and Phi Beta Kappa honor society, for his leadership on the team, active participation in fostering a diverse, safe space on campus, and his compassion as a volunteer. He listed Cox’s many engagements on campus, including as an RA and a Yellow Jacket Ambassador and on Commons Activities Board, Hillel, Theatre Arts Group, Diversity Council, SGA, THRIVE Peer to Peer Success Program, and in Leadership Fellows.

Two awards, supported by the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, honor the lives of foundation founder Algernon Sydney Sullivan and his wife Mildred. Recipients receive a bronze medallion.

In presenting the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award to David Funderburg ’22, President Lindgren quoted the nomination letter of men’s basketball Coach Josh Merkel, who called the fifth-year senior and team captain “a winner both on and off the court. When I think of him, the first word I think of is joy.” He noted Funderburg’s achievements as a New Student Transition Captain and president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He then presented the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award to Gracie Smith ’22, who will graduate after just three years. The Psychology major and member of the tennis team was honored for her academic success paired with her servant leadership in Young Life, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Order of Omega, and with service activities.