Barlow Award Highlights 14th Annual Honors Day
Rebecca Spitzley of Ithaca was awarded the 2010 Barlow Trophy, Alma’s most prestigious award for a graduating senior, during Honors Day Convocation on Thursday, April 1. A graduate of Ithaca High School, Spitzley is the daughter of Bill and Sharon Spitzley of Ithaca.
Spitzley is known on campus for her involvement in a vast number of activities and organizations, including Students United for Nature, where she assisted with campus recycling efforts and cleaning up the Pine River.
President Saundra Tracy and Rebecca Spitzley
As a resident assistant, Spitzley actively encouraged students to get involved in campus life. She coordinated hall projects, which varied from volunteering at the Community Café to raking the yards of local senior citizen.
She also served as a fellow with the Center for Responsible Leadership, mentor at Alma Middle School, treasurer of the Catholic Student Organization and member of the German and Education clubs.
“Alma has instilled in me that in order to make the most of my college experience, not only should I be involved, but I also need to make contributions in order to improve the quality of the Alma experience for future students,” she says.
Students display research during Honors Day.
Spitzley worked in the Admissions Office giving campus tours, hosting prospective students and writing recruitment letters. She also assisted the Mathematics Department by tutoring students and grading papers for professors.
A student representative on the College’s Strategy and Planning Council, Spitzley also participated in off-campus service projects, including a Habitat for Humanity project in Florida and tornado recovery relief in Kansas. Most recently, she volunteered in a kindergarten class in Peru.
Student research on display.
Jaimie Bolda of Port Austin and David Bechtold of Idaho Falls also were nominees for the Barlow Trophy, which was established in 1949 by alumnus Dr. Joel Barlow ‘29. The award, which is voted on by Student Congress and faculty members, is awarded to a graduating student in the top 10 percent of the senior class who has made incredible contributions to both the campus and the community.
Honors Day also was highlighted by guest speaker Jeff Lieberman, co-host of the Discovery Channel's "Time Warp." Lieberman talks with students following his presentation.
Posted: Fri, April 2nd, 2010 at 10:06AM
