Mary-Haston Leary (second from left) stands with Stephan McDavid, Dan Jones and Albert Nylander after receiving the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Photo: Alex Edwards, The Daily Mississippian.
The Inaugural Celebration of Service, recognizing exemplary service in the Oxford-Lafayette community, honored five Oxford residents with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for selflessness in community service on Wednesday.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was established in 1890 in order to recognize individuals who actively set out to serve and improve their communities.
Oxford community member Carol Van Besien and University of Mississippi student Mary-Haston Leary were presented with the award in recognition of their service to the community and to other citizens.
Van Besien is a former employee of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy who volunteers at Memory Makers, a care center that tends to elderly Alzheimer’s patients.
Van Besien said the most rewarding part of volunteer work is the pleasure and satisfaction of seeing the patients happy.
“The rewards are instant, and I think the more you do it, the more you want to do it, so I think it’s as good for me as it is to help others,” she said.
Van Besien said that volunteer participation is vital to community growth.
“So many of these groups within Oxford would not move forward as quickly without the work of volunteers. Some of those people are extremely talented and have a lot to offer and are dedicated, which helps organizations expand.”
Leary, a second year pharmacy student, has been involved in several campus organizations, including the school of pharmacy student body, Catholic Campus Ministries, Service for Sight and Lovepacks, an organization that distributes food to impoverished children in the Oxford area.
“I’m incredibly thankful to the university for giving me such an honor.” Leary said. “When you give back, I feel like I’m always the one who benefits most. I get to help someone else, but, really, it helps me too. That’s when I’m at my best, when I’m getting to help others.”
In addition to the awards given to Van Besien and Leary, sophomore Conner Clark and graduate students Deterrian “D.T.” Shackelford and Devin Thomas were recognized as finalists for the award.
“Volunteering is one of the most important things a person can do,” Leary said. “That’s how a community grows: people working together, helping our neighbors, doing the right thing.”
— Kylie McFadden
thedmnews@gmail.com
