Students at Lyon College are known for their academic achievements, and on Saturday during the College’s commencement, eight of them took home awards for their outstanding performance.

The winners were:

The Charles H. Coffin Medal (the highest academic award) – Robert Bailey. He is a double major in French and music with a Spanish minor and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Brent C. Bailey of Ward, Ark. Bailey was recently awarded a prestigious J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship. (Mr. Bailey is pictured at right with Dr. John Peek, Dean of the Faculty.)

Established as a memorial to Dr. Coffin by a former classmate of his at Lyon, the Coffin Scholarship Medal is the highest academic honor bestowed on a graduating senior, and is awarded each year to an honor graduate who has taken his or her last three years of work at the College as a regular student.

The Dr. and Mrs. John D. Spragins Memorial Award – Laura McWilliams,. She’s a chemistry major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McWilliams of Benton.

The Spragins Award was established by the Board of Trustees in honor of a former president of Lyon and his wife. It is given annually to a member of the graduating class who best represents the ideals of the college.

The Mosley Fellowship – John Boling. He’s a biology major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Boling of Jonesboro.

The Mosley Fellowship is named in memory of Dr. Ellis G. Mosley, a former professor of religion at Lyon, and Mrs. Mary Newton Mosley. It is intended for use in graduate school and is awarded annually to a member of the graduating class whose academic record and promise of future service are deemed outstanding by the faculty.

The Dr. Samuel W. Williams Fellowship – Rachel Miesner. She’s a biology major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Miesner of Booneville.

The Williams Fellowship was established by the Board of Trustees in honor of Dr. Williams’ service to Lyon as a dean and professor. It is intended for use in graduate school and is awarded annually to a member of the graduating class whose academic record and promise of future service are deemed outstanding by the faculty.

The John T. Dahlquist Scholar-Athlete Award – Alison Sablick an English major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Sablick of McKinney, Texas.

The Dahlquist Award is given each year to the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest grade point average. The award is given in honor of John Dahlquist, a former dean of faculty at the college, and his wife, Diana. A general stipend is received upon the recipient entering graduate school.

The Seibert Fellowship – Julie Sandy. She is a history major from Batesville.

The Seibert Fellowship was established by the Board of Trustees in honor of Daniel Seibert, a former professor of education and psychology at Lyon. It is intended for use in graduate school and is awarded annually to a member of the graduating class whose academic record and promise of future service are deemed outstanding by the faculty, and whose major field is one in which Professor Seibert taught.

The Lester Fellowship – Keith Harmon. He’s an English major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Harmon of Searcy.

The Lester Fellowship was established by the Board of Trustees in honor of Dr. Margaret Pruden Lester, a former professor of history at Lyon. It is intended for use in graduate school and is awarded annually to a member of the graduating class whose academic record and promise of future service are deemed outstanding by the faculty.

The Class of 1994 Award – Danielle Bell. She’s a biology major and the daughter of Ms. Kimberly K. Mitchell of Cabot.

The Class of 1994 created the award to recognize a graduating senior whose achievements warrant distinction.

Photos of the honorees are posted on What's Hot.