Published on May 17, 2014 by Mary Wimberley  
Irons Award 2014

Graduating seniors Caroline Reid Donaldson and Anna Grace Poole received Samford University's top academic awards during commencement exercises at the school May 17.

Donaldson, a double art and English major from Greer, S.C., received the President's Cup-the valedictorian award-for having the highest grade point average in the senior class.  She was presented the trophy at the graduation ceremony for Samford's School of the Arts and Orlean Bullard School of Education. She is a University Fellow.

Poole, a psychology major from Arkadelphia, Ark., received the Velma Wright Irons Award-the salutatorian award-for having the second highest average.  She was presented a silver tray at the graduation program for Samford's Howard College of Arts and Sciences. She is a University Fellow.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.