November 02, 2009

Contact:   Bill Giduz

President John Kuykendall's address and honorary degree were occasion for a family reunion for John and Missy with sons (l-r) Jamie and Tim.

An inspirational address about the Honor Code by President Emeritus John W. Kuykendall ‘59 served as the highlight for Fall Convocation recently. Kuykendall, who also received an honorary doctor of letters degree at the event, was instrumental as a student a half-century ago in creating the Honor Council. The Family Weekend crowd gathered in Duke Family Performance Hall for the ceremonies honored Kuykendall at the conclusion of his remarks with a prolonged standing ovation.

For a transcript of Kuykendall's address, click here. To download it as an audio podcast, click here. To view it in video, click here.

Members of the faculty and the senior class donned their academic regalia for the Saturday morning event, which also featured several student and faculty awards.

Kelly A. Chaston, associate professor of economics, won the Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding personal influence, teaching, writing, scholarship and service. She was cited for her warmth and kindness, and her leadership and persuasive advocacy of a number of college initiatives. "She brings a commitment to the best: seeking a challenging and rewarding experience for our students," said Clark Ross, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty, in his presentation of the award.

Chaston's efforts on behalf of the college's writing program led to a successful grant that supports a director of college writing, and she taught a first year writing course herself. She has taught courses in health economics, and gender and economics that furthered the college's efforts to offer more interdisciplinary courses. She also chaired the ethnic diversity committee.

Economics Professor Kelly Chaston received the Thomas Jefferson Award from Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Clark Ross.

Professor of Theatre Joseph T. Gardner Jr. received the Boswell Family Faculty Fellowship, a grant designed to allow the recipient to enjoy a full year's sabbatical instead of just one semester. During next academic year, Gardner will be writing a play about early 20th-century African-American aviator Hubert Julian, an intriguing and dashing character who was known as "The Black Eagle." Gardner, a noted set designer, has spent his 35-year career at Davidson teaching and working primarily in theatrical production, and is looking forward to the challenge of writing a full-length play.

Three students received Goodwin-Exxon Awards for high standards of character, sportsmanship and consideration of others-Clinton W. Smith '10 of New Orleans, Belk Scholar Alanna N. Ford '11 from Cumming, Ga., and Presidential Scholar Tiffany L. Pham '12 from Chicago.

Pham volunteers each week at a free medical clinic, a hospice care facility and a home for teenage mothers and their children. In citing her dedicated and humble manner, one nominator noted that, because she does not have a car and doesn't want to bother anyone else, she has biked to Mooresville on occasion to work at the hospice facility.

Ford, who is studying abroad this semester, is the founder of a student organization called FLY which is devoted to raising awareness about disordered eating and promotion of positive body image and self-esteem. She also helps recruit volunteers for the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, has coordinated a clothing drive to benefit local people in need, and worked last summer in India with a women's association that helps artisans earn sustainable livelihoods through making traditional crafts.

Goodwin-Exxon Award winner Clint Smith flanked by his parents, Sheryl and Clinton.

Smith, a varsity soccer player, led his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity's voter registration drive, serves as program coordinator for Big Brother/Big Sisters, edits the "Perspectives" section of The Davidsonian student newspaper and coordinates a campus slam poetry program.

Will Terry ‘54, dean of students emeritus, received the Alumni Service Award from Alumni Association President John Teague ‘82. Teague also presented the Alumni Association Award for highest grade point average during the first year of study to three sophomores who tied for the honor- Belk Scholar Brian A. Bouchard of Worland, Wyo., Harry M. "Ree" Lightsey of Atlanta, and Holly E. Sims of Fort Worth.

A native of Charlotte, Kuykendall was president of Davidson from 1984 to 1997. His convocation address was delivered in conjunction with the college's Celebration of Honor and Integrity, which marks 100 years of a student-run honor system at Davidson and 50 years of the Honor Council.

It was Kuykendall, as student body president in 1959, who established the Honor Council at Davidson. In his address, he referred to that initiative as "an experiment in trust" that continues to this day. He lauded Davidson as a crucible in which the experiment evolves, but warned students that a life of honor is a challenge that continues beyond four years on campus. "Becoming a person of integrity won't be concluded here," he said. "It is the work of a lifetime. It takes all the time you've got."

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,800 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
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