University Honors Four Parishioners

Order of the Golden Fleece

The Order of the Golden Fleece, founded in 1904, is the highest and oldest honorary society of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For 100 years, the Order has represented excellence and leadership on the campus. While the demographics of its membership have changed over the years, the principles of integrity and honor remain intact. The Order recognizes individuals - students, faculty, staff members, and alumni - who have made lasting, innovative, and extraordinary contributions of excellence to the entire University. Members of the organization, as in the Greek legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece, are referred to as Argonauts.

Virginia Carson - for her creativity and deep commitment to service and students of the Carolina Community. Virginia Carson has been a passionate motivator who successfully guides students to turn enthusiasm for social justice into meaningful projects. A graduate of the University in 1971, she returned to the campus in 2000 as director of the Campus Y, an organization that serves more than 1700 members in 20 different communities. Her mentorship has extended to members and non-members alike, including presidents of many UNC student organizations. She has made a personal commitment to the Campus Y Building Campaign for its restoration and has led the fundraising of $3.5 million in the past four years. She also contributes to the University in her posts as the President of the UNC-CH Association of Women Faculty and Professionals and as part of the Chancellor's Task Force for a Better Work Place. For these and other accomplishments, the Order of the Golden Fleece proudly taps Virginia Carson.

Joseph F. Ferrell - for his service to the University as secretary of the faculty and as, "the living archive of the campus." Joseph Ferrell joined the University community as a freshman in 1956. After his graduation he earned a LLBD from Carolina Law (1963), joined the faculty at the UNC Institute of Government (1964) and served a Secretary of the Faculty (1996). He is an institution at Carolina, providing guidance to his colleagues on the faculty, deans of the School of Government, and the Chairs of the Faculty with whom he has served. His work with University and North Carolina government administration displays both depth and breadth, and countless Carolina leaders have benefited from his insight. For these and other accomplishments, the Order of the Golden Fleece proudly taps Joseph Ferrell.

Edward Kidder Graham

Outstanding Senior Awards

This award recognizes seniors who have contributed to the organization's strength, vitality, and longevity by promoting the goals and ideals of the organization through their leadership, dedication, and innovation.

Benjamin Garren, Episcopal Campus Ministry - has been a fundamental part of the leadership team. As a communications leader, much of the work that he has done has been behind the scenes and has thus gone unrecognized by a majority of the membership. His work was crucial to creating a very smooth transition within our leadership team. He has balanced the pressures of leading a historically significant and extremely active student organization along with the pressures of being a graduating senior. It takes a person of exceptional strength to contentedly grapple with the uncertainties of graduation and the demands of an active organization without any recognition. His support and encouragement have helped many of our incoming freshmen realize their potential and adapt to life at the University of North Carolina.

Sarah Love Taylor, Episcopal Campus Ministry - has served heroically this year in her position. In spite of this being a year of transition, she has been able to fulfill her duties of providing an outstanding worship program seemingly effortlessly. She worked diligently to coordinate with the other priests to minimize the impact that being without a chaplain might have on the membership of the organization. She encouraged members to contribute their expertise to ensure that the new leadership was constantly developing. She's detail oriented, committed, courageous, and executes well planned programs. It was stated that, in 20 years of advising the organization, she is one of the top five leaders the organization has ever had.