Troy University has honored two students and a member of the University’s faculty with the 2023 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards.

Alexandra Scarber, a senior Criminal Justice major from Burke, Va., Josh Dawsey, a senior History major from Dothan, and Cathy Lott, Lecturer and Assistant Chair of the Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education, received the Sullivan Awards during a luncheon on Monday in their honor on the Troy Campus. The recipients were also honored during the University’s annual Honors Convocation Monday night.

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.

“We think it is appropriate that Troy University awards the Sullivan Awards because of its focus on leadership,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “I believe one of the great challenges we face in this society today is true leadership. Real leadership is about bringing people together. Leaders with well-defined values is what this country needs to perpetuate this thing that we take for granted called a democracy. We believe those we recognize with the Sullivan Awards will contribute greatly to the preservation of that which we hold dear.”

Scarber, who has a 4.0 Grade Point Average, serves as the President of Alpha Phi Sigma, the Criminal Justice Honor Society, Vice President of the Political Science Club, Vice President of Student Involvement for the Student Government Association, a member of the SGA Supreme Court and a member of the Theta Delta chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi. She also was a student athlete on the cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Scarber is President of the Mortar Board Honor Society, as well as a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Order of Omega, and Alpha Phi Sigma honor societies and recognized as a member of The 87 at Troy University for the 2022-2023 academic year. She was selected as one of the Most Outstanding Women at TROY in 2023.

In addition to her leadership on campus and in the classroom, Scarber is a Bible study leader and Sunday School teacher at Troy First United Methodist Church and a volunteer with the Salvation Army where she helps label, organize and shelve canned goods in the food pantry. She is the daughter of Charlie and Michelle Scarber.

Dawsey, who serves as a student worker in the Troy University Office of Admissions, is a chairman of the Student Government Association’s Governing Laws Committee and a counselor at Living Stones retreat, where he helped incoming freshmen and transfer students become involved with local ministries and churches and served as a small group leader. He is a member of the publication team for the Alexandrian, a student research journal for the Department of History and Philosophy.

Dawsey was a Troy University IMPACT Leader in 2022 and served as a Trojan Ambassador during the 2021-2022 academic year. He is a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success and The 87 at Troy University, and was a member of the TROY Homecoming Court and a nominee for Mr. Trojan Pride. Dawsey is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Dawsey.

A Troy native and a two-time Troy University graduate, Lott taught in public elementary schools for 20 years and served as a reading coach and an adjunct professor at Troy University prior to joining the TROY faculty full time.

Known for her spiritual qualities and her dedication to advising, teaching and mentoring students in the Department of Teacher Education, Lott spends countless hours preparing teacher candidates in reading instruction and training students in the Alabama Reading Initiative. She serves as advisor to Kappa Delta Pi and to the student Alabama Education Association group.

A letter of nomination called Lott “a leader in serving students” who “teaches her heart out” to prepare future classroom teachers.

Lott was joined at Monday night’s convocation by her parents, Jim and Debbie Chance.