Troy University has honored two students and a member of the University’s faculty with the 2017 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards.

Sarah Talbot, a senior graphic design major from Montgomery, Maxwell D. Herman, a senior hospitality, sport and tourism management major from Panama City, and Dr. John Kline, distinguished professor of leadership and director of the Institute for Leadership Development, received the Sullivan Awards during a luncheon in their honor on the Troy Campus. The recipients were also honored during the University’s annual Honors Convocation on April 17.

The Sullivan Award, which is presented at select colleges and universities throughout the United States, recognizes recipients for their excellence of character, humanitarian service and spiritual qualities. The award has been presented annually to a male student, a female student and one non-student at TROY since 1981. Students, faculty and staff nominate candidates for the award.

“It’s appropriate that we present the Sullivan Awards at Troy University,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “Our mission is not only to prepare our students to make a living, but more importantly, to make a life. We want our graduates to be equipped with the skills and values necessary to make a difference, and the Sullivan Awards honor that type of commitment to serving others.”

Talbot has served as president of Chi Omega and previously served as the sorority’s recruitment chair. For the past three years, she has been recognized for academic achievement by being named to the Chancellor’s List and she received the Department of Art Design scholarship for the 2016-2017 academic year. In 2015, Talbot took part in the graphic design program study abroad program in Halmstad, Sweden during the fall 2015 semester.

Talbot is a member of the Order of Women’s Greek Bible Study, a Bible study student leader for Greek freshman women. As a member of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, she has volunteered as a religious education instructor teaching Catholic education classes to elementary students and as a musician for Holy Mass and Adoration. Upon graduation, Talbot will begin her career as a Fellowship of Catholic University Students missionary.

Herman has served as president of the Interfraternity Council, a Student Government Association Senator, a Trojan Ambassador and a member of the University’s Sound of the South Marching Band. He also previously served as operations chair for the University’s Greek Week Committee, vice president of recruitment and public relations for the Interfraternity Council, Food Advisory Council Chair, chair of the SGA’s Student Life Committee, chair and creator of the Battle of the Belt Rivalry Committee and as a member of the Homecoming Committee during which he coordinated a campus blood drive that attracted 300 donors.

Herman also has been an active part of Campus Outreach ministries on the Troy Campus and is a member of First Baptist Church in Troy.

Dr. Kline joined the Troy University faculty in 2000 as a professor of education and became the director of the Institute for Leadership Development in 2003. He previously served as the provost and the highest ranking civilian employee at the United States Air Force’s Air University at Maxwell.

Dr. Kline has taught Sunday school, preached and led youth since 1957. He has served as president of the Wesley Gardens Auxiliary since 2011 and has been active in Special Olympics and the State’s Youth Leadership Forum for High School Students with Disabilities since 2003. He co-founded Leadership Montgomery and has continued to be involved in the program and also co-founded the “Partners in Education” program in Montgomery schools, serving as president from 1996-1999.

Dr. Kline is a former Lay Leader of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery and served on the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church from 2000-2008. Dr. Kline teaches numerous leadership courses to TROY students and speaks regularly at retirement homes, schools, churches and civic and youth organizations throughout Alabama.

Dr. Kline holds a bachelor’s degree in English and speech education from Iowa State University (1967), a master’s in speech communication (1968), and a doctorate in communication theory, research and education (1970) from the University of Iowa. He also completed the Federal Program for Senior Executives at the University of Virginia and the John F. Kennedy Summer Program in International Security at Harvard University.