Macon— Dennis Drummond of Cedartown received one of Mercer University’s top honors at commencement in the Macon Coliseum on Saturday, May 14. Mercer University President R. Kirby Godsey presented him with the Griffin B. Bell Award for Community Service—the only award selected from students from all of the University’s 10 colleges and schools.
The son of Micky and Carolyn Drummond of Cedartown, Drummond graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education from Mercer’s Tift College of Education May 14.
Since arriving on the Mercer Campus, he has shown dedication to the Mercer as well as the broader community. His qualifications and contributions in scholarship, leadership and service are especially impressive when considering the demanding schedule of a teacher education major and the number of hours required for clinical fieldwork within the public schools.
While maintaining an excellent academic achievement record at Mercer, three semesters on the President’s List and seven on the Dean’s List, he served as a resident director with Residential Life and Judicial Affairs. As resident director, Drummond maintained eight buildings housing a total of 160 residents, including four staff members.
While serving as the secretary of the Mercer Ambassadors from August 2002 to May 2004, Drummond created and implemented the inaugural Web site for the Ambassadors. He also collaborated with other members in fostering effective communication.
During his tenure as philanthropy chair for his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, he coordinated all philanthropic and community service activities, raising more than $8,000 for The Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Home in Hahira.
As president of Circle K International, Drummond envisioned and created Mercer’s first Haunted Forest, which included coordinating more than 40 volunteers and supervising the marketing/promotion for the event. His commitment to academic excellence and to the betterment of others earned him recognition when he was selected as the 2004 Dean’s Choice and the Student of the Year for the Tift College of Education. Drummond is known as a kind, personable young man who has an astounding ability to lead those within his peer group. The Tift College of Education administrators who nominated him feel they have seen few individuals of his age who have these gifts that are reflected in his every action and interaction.
About the Griffin B. Bell Award:
In March 1999 Judge Griffin B. Bell was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in Trusteeship by the Association of Governing Boards and Universities. The longtime Mercer Trustee was one of two national honorees selected from the 50,000 board members who volunteer their time to higher education. For this noteworthy accomplishment, Judge Bell was presented a crystal Steuben sculpture and a framed certificate. The University, in Judge Bell’s honor, was presented a $10,000 unrestricted cash award. At its April 2000 meeting, the Mercer Board of Trustees voted to use the award to establish the Griffin B. Bell Award for Community Service. This award, along with a replica of the Steuben that was given to Judge Bell, is presented annually to deserving graduating students from among Mercer’s 10 schools and colleges.
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