Lanford Presidential Prize goes to Rachel King

Rachel E. King

Rachel E. King, who compiled an impressive array of achievements during her SUNY Fredonia career, will receive the 2007 Lanford Presidential Prize from the Oscar and Esther Lanford Endowment at Fredonia’s afternoon Commencement on Saturday, May 12.

Ms. King, from Syracuse, N.Y., will graduate with degrees in Communication/Public Relations and English. She compiled an outstanding grade point average at Fredonia and was the recipient of the 2007 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

The Lanford Presidential Prize, funded by the Oscar and Esther Lanford Endowment of the Fredonia College Foundation, recognizes a graduating senior who has exhibited balanced achievement and exemplified Fredonia’s ideals. High degree of personal honesty and integrity, substantial intellectual growth and exemplary service to SUNY Fredonia, including participation in more than one aspect of university life, are among the criteria for the honor, created and endowed by the late President Emeritus Oscar E. Lanford and Mrs. Lanford.

Active on campus, Ms. King served as president of Golden Key International Honour Society, was a founding member of the Fredonia chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America and belonged to Leadership Corps, Leadership Development Program, Applied Communication Association, Habitat for Humanity, Campus Host Program and Senior Challenge Committee. She served two terms as a Hall Council president and was also a member of the Brass Quintet Ensemble.

Individual honors received by Ms. King included the Winch Scholarship, Mary Louise White Fiction Award, Robert E. Coon Recognition Award and Golden Key Honour Society Scholarship.

Ms. King devoted the spring term to study abroad at American University in Bulgaria. She will enroll at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in the fall to earn a master’s degree in communication. Teaching media studies or communications at the university level is her long-term goal. She is the daughter of Karen L. and D. Brian King.

Also nominated for the Lanford Award were the following:

Matthew J. Brysinski, English-adolescent education, Buffalo, N.Y.; Heather C. Flay, mathematics-adolescent education, Lockport, N.Y.; Brendan M. Keiser, English-adolescent education, Speonk, N.Y.; Christine J. Moore, childhood education, Fredonia, N.Y.; Souad M. Moussawi, economics, Dunkirk, N.Y.; Laura J. Shapiro, English, Massapequa, N.Y.; Kyle M. Stetz, social studies-adolescent education; and Molly B. Watson, business administration, Walworth, N.Y.