The annual Wesleyan Awards Day was held on Thursday during free period in Martin Hall.

Hundreds of students, faculty, and sponsors were in attendance as they received awards and cheered on their fellow students.

Dozens of students from many different academic studies were honored during the ceremony.  Dean of Freshman Success Joe Brown and Dr. Stacia Campbell, associate professor of English, served as the co-masters of ceremonies, each taking turns announcing the various awards that were handed out by the deans of each school.

Brown wrote in an e-mail that he and Campbell have been hosting this event for several years, and he enjoys hosting very much.

“Awards Day has been around since BEFORE I came to Wesleyan in 1978,” Brown wrote.  “It is a very personal event and mirrors the Robing Ceremony in its uniqueness and “Smaller, Smarter” personal aspects about Wesleyan.  Over the years, as the awards increased, we have done some editing of the awards script so that we are done by 1:30 before the next classes start.”

Brown wrote that he believes this event really celebrates students with various interests, including athletics, arts, and academics.

“It is important for these recognitions,” Brown wrote, “and while some faculty and staff are recognized, it is a student based awards celebration.”

Student Matthew Breedlove came to watch the event and be recognized for his participation in the Pre-professional Program.

“Personally, I really enjoyed it as an observer,” Breedlove wrote in an e-mail, “because it allowed me to see some of my friends and acquaintances get some rewards. I also thought the presentation was very nice and professional as well.”

Breedlove wrote that he thinks it is important for students and faculty to be recognized for their efforts and hard work.

“Their achievements should be emboldened by these ceremonies and these ceremonies also serve as a good reminder that hard work and persistence equalizes success,” he wrote.  “These ceremonies allow the students and staff to know that they have done extremely well and these recognitions can help bolster their confidence.”

Student Nicolas Davis was recognized as a recipient of the Hatton Sumners Scholarship, as well as being inducted into the Guardians of the Golden Shears, a small, elite group of students that model the best that Wesleyan has to offer.

“I thought awards day was great!” Davis wrote in an e-mail.  “This was my first time ever getting to participate and the amount of support and campus culture was amazing.  It is a true honor to get those awards and to be recognized. After all, Wesleyan is “smaller, smarter” and it truly shows with the family like atmosphere that we have here on campus.”

Brown believes this event is important for students, even though there are now other awards events on campus such as the “Rammies”.  He wrote that this event is to celebrate the best in students, which he finds valuable.

“Sometimes in our busy and technologically driven lives,” Brown wrote, “we forget to stop and simply celebrate our accomplishments and take a moment to breathe…this is what we do at Wesleyan Awards Day!”