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O’More Recognizes Academic and Professional Success

O’More Recognizes Academic and Professional Success

Friends, family and guests gathered recently to honor O’More College of Design’s graduating class of 2013. In addition to the 34 students awarded Bachelor of Arts degrees, special awards were presented to three people important to the College’s past, present and future.

Selected by the College’s Society of Fellows, the Distinguished Professor Award and the Doctor of Arts Honoras Causa Award are the highest honors the institution bestows upon individuals. O’More President Mark Hilliard said those recognized have made invaluable contributions to the College, their academic disciplines or society at large through personal and professional achievements.

Executive Vice President Shari Fox was presented with the Distinguished Professor Award, the highest tribute given to a full-time faculty member. In addition to her administrative and academic oversight responsibilities, Fox serves as an associate professor at the College, an academic tutor and the College’s Student Government Association liaison.

“Shari’s ongoing commitment to excellence, distinguished reputation, and significant contributions to the College earned her the academic honor, of which she was the fourth faculty member to ever receive,” Dr. Hilliard said. “One must have given the majority of his or her career to academic education, research and service to be given this honor.”

Fox has been at O’More for 17 years, longer than any other faculty member at the four-year design college.

An imported Irish Peterson pipe mounted on a handcrafted stand and marble base was given to Fox. Other recipients of the award include Dr. John Kizer, Dr. William Kelton and Hilliard.

The doctor of arts honorees were selected based on their specialties in higher education. Former O’More President Randall Yearwood was recognized for his service to the College, and David Woodfine for his efforts in securing O’More’s membership into the Oxford University Summer Research Institute.

“We are blessed to have incredible talent here at O’More,” Hilliard said. “Recipients of these awards have helped to enrich the students’ lives and the lives around them. We give an honorary doctorate to acknowledge that the recipient deserves to be recognized for their unsurpassed abilities and contributions due to their life experiences.”

Founded in 1970, O’More College of Design is a four-year, not-for-profit institution offering bachelor of fine arts degrees in fashion design, interior design and visual communications. The college is located in the historic district of downtown Franklin, Tenn. To learn more, visit www.omorecollege.edu.