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Don Stedman, University Ministry Committee Chair

When your professional calling is to work daily, knee-deep in college students, you can't beat the feeling of getting a coveted award from them for being a much-respected student advisor. That's what has happened to our Jean DeSaix, longtime parishioner at the Chapel of the Cross and an active member of the University Ministry Committee for more than 20 years.

A member of the Biology Department at UNC-Chapel Hill, Jean is also an advisor to students in the College of Arts and Sciences and faculty advisor to students in our campus ministry program. Her work is to guide students in their academic programs and progress toward graduation. In April Jean was named one of a very few winners of the 2002 Edward Kidder Graham Awards for outstanding student advisors and also for outstanding faculty awards for working with undergrads at Carolina.

The awards are determined entirely by students, a unique feature. Jean's recognition was based heavily on her work as faculty advisor in our Episcopal Campus Ministry (ECM), a post she has held for several years. Edward Kidder Graham was president of UNC-Chapel Hill from 1915 until his death during the influenza epidemic of 1918. Like our own late Chancellor Carlyle Sitterson (1966-72), Graham was devoted to students. It is fitting that both men were honored by the establishment of awards for faculty who work closely with undergraduates. It is fitting, too, that Jean DeSaix be identified with the Graham legacy. Congratulations to her for her nifty work with students at Carolina and with our ECM students here -- and for being recognized for the hard work that teaching and advising entail.

© 2002: Chapel of the Cross