Released: May 13, 1999

Centre College announces academic prizes and awards

DANVILLE, KY- Student comments by Centre seniors Vanessa Aja of Louisville and David Sigmon of Hendersonville, N.C., served as the highlight of the 1999 Centre College honors convocation, held Wednesday, May 12, on campus. The crowd of close to 500 students and faculty in attendance gave Aja and Sigmon a rousing ovation after each talked about pivotal experiences that had shaped their lives.

Aja spoke about the challenges of growing up in the United States as a person of Cuban descent, and Sigmon talked about heroes, citing his childhood admiration for Chicago sportscaster Harry Caray of the Chicago Cubs.

Aja and Sigmon were elected by their fellow seniors to speak on behalf of the class. They were additionally honored during the convocation when the college named them as the recipients of the 1999 Max P. Cavnes Prizes, given each year to the most respected man and woman in the senior class. The prize is named for a beloved Centre dean and professor.

In other highlights of the honors program, Kyle Brothers of Union was chosen for the John Marshall Harlan Award, given to the junior student who most conspicuously displays the quality of leadership.

Kevin Wood and Andrea Zawacki, both of Georgetown, received the Max P. Cavnes Freshman Book Prize as the sophomore man and woman who had the highest academic averages at the end of the freshman year.

Jessi Wortham of Louisville received the West T. Hills Dramatic Arts Prize, named for a former Centre professor who was instrumental in establishing a community theater program in Danville. The prize goes to the graduating senior who has made the greatest contribution to Centre's dramatic arts program over the course of four years.

- end -

Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422

Coordinator of Public Information: Patsi Barnes Trollinger
Telephone 606-238-5719 · trllngrp@centre.edu