The University of Olivet honored three students at the Country Club of Lansing May 15. Juniors Levi Armstrong, of Charlotte; Jenna Edwards, of North Branch; and Jalen Weaver, of Albion, received the John W. Porter Community Responsibility Scholarship at The University of Olivet’s 18th annual Leadership for Individual and Social Responsibility Awards Dinner.
The three students received the honor for demonstrating the The University of Olivet Compact through their involvement and service at the college and to their community.
Armstrong, a saxophone music major, plays in the jazz band, wind ensemble and athletic band. In January, he was one of three The University of Olivet students selected to perform in the 2014 Michigan Intercollegiate Honor Band. He also has been named to the college’s President’s List and Dean’s List numerous times.
Edwards, who is majoring in exercise science, was recently recognized as a fellow of the The University of Olivet President’s Leadership Institute. She too has been named to the Dean’s List and President’s List, and is a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa, the honor society for students of The University of Olivet’s Health and Human Performance Department.
Weaver, also an exercise science major, is a student-athlete who in May was named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District VI Cross Country/Track and Field team. He is also a three-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll recipient and has been on the President’s or Dean’s List every semester of his college career.
At the age of 38, Dr. John W. Porter was the youngest chief state school officer and the first black state school superintendent in the nation. In 1979, Dr. Porter served as president of Eastern Michigan University. From 1989 to 1991, he served as the general superintendent for Detroit Public Schools. During his tenure, the district went from having a $160 million deficit and unbalanced budget to a $35 million surplus. In 2001, Dr. Porter was awarded the The University of Olivet Leadership Award for his commitment to Olivet’s educational philosophy of individual and social responsibility. In gratitude of this honor, he established an endowed scholarship for current students at The University of Olivet who demonstrate leadership and community involvement.