John W. Barney Memorial Award

This award recognizes the graduating senior(s) with the highest cumulative GPA. Colleagues, former students, and friends of the late John W. Barney established this award in his honor. Mr. Barney graduated from Elon in 1910 and was a member of the faculty for more than three decades.

Presented by Aswani Volety, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Biology

Transcript of Commendations

Aswani Volety, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Biology

One of the rewarding parts of being Provost at Elon is that each spring I have the privilege of presenting the John W. Barney Memorial Award to the graduating senior or seniors with the highest cumulative GPA.  This year’s recipient has earned a perfect 4.0.

From Moncks Corner, South Carolina, our recipient has achieved extraordinary success across his scholarly endeavors. He is an honors student double majoring in Cinematic and Television Arts and Anthropology.

He has consistently participated in a broad variety of extracurricular activities throughout his time at Elon, including LEAF (Lutherans, Episcopalians and Friends) student and community fellowship. A faculty member shared “This student’s first interaction with LEAF was as a part of a project he was doing for an anthropology class. Once he completed the project, he chose to stick around in the community and we’re so glad he did!”

He is interested in gaming culture, video production, and editing. Following graduation, he plans to move to Seattle to pursue work in the aforementioned fields.

As one faculty member notes, “This student deserves to be recognized with this award, as he is one of the most engaged students the sociology and anthropology department has had the pleasure of educating. We are all immensely proud of him.”

I have no doubt that his Elon education will serve him well as he embarks upon the next phase of his life, and that he will be a wonderful ambassador for the value of an Elon education.

Please join me in congratulating Gilbert (Gilby) Schultz as the 2020 John W. Barney Memorial Award Recipient.