Four awards were handed out at the annual Lyon College President's Convocation Tuesday.

Lyon College students Katee Castleman of Batesville and Levi Rogocki of Norfork were named Mr. and Ms. Lyon at the event. The Mr. and Ms. Lyon College honor is awarded to seniors who embody the ideal characteristics of a Lyon student.

Castleman was chosen for her many accomplishments including her efforts in the Student Government Association. Rogocki also was chosen for an array of accomplishments including his work in campus ministries.

Kappa Sigma also was honored at the convocation with the President's Cup. The award was established in 1990 and is designed to recognize excellence and leadership in all facets of campus life among Lyon's Greek organizations. The President's Cup is awarded annually to a Greek organization that demonstrates the greatest in achievements, service to others, athletics, the arts and campus life in the previous academic year.

The Lamar Williamson Prize for Faculty Excellence was presented to Dr. Tim Lindblom, associate professor of biology. The prize is awarded annually to a Lyon College faculty member who is deemed most outstanding in professional competence, scholarly ability, the exemplification of humane and Christian values and contributions to the community.

Students Liam George and Maci Powers accepted the raft race winners paddle at the convocation for the winning students, Mentor Group 12. The group donated its $100 prize to the Habitat for Humanity Chapter of Independence County.

In his last President's Convocation remarks, Dr. Walter Roettger said Lyon College has reinvented itself from a small regional college to a nationally recognized institution. Roettger has been president at Lyon since 1998 and has announced he will retire in June 2009.

"By the same token, this national recognition means that we have added value to the diplomas that bear our name, that bear the names of our alumni, and will bear the names of future graduates," he said. "This national visibility will open additional doors for alumni; it will open doors for current students. It's a special dividend that we'll pay forward to you."

Roettger said his last President's Convocation speech was inspired by Carnegie Mellon University professor Randy Pausch, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Pausch died in July, but his last speech to students titled "Last Lecture" has been viewed by millions of people on the Internet and on television.

Pausch concluded his lecture with a list of lessons learned. The lessons ranged from showing gratitude to loyalty to apologizing. He also said choices play a big part in a student's life. You can choose to be a Tigger or an Eeyore, both characters from the Winnie the Pooh series, he said. Tigger is irrepressible and optimistic; Eeyore is depressed and pessimistic.

As Roettger summed up Pausch's lessons, he challenged students to take a step back and think about their lives.