ARF Student Awards

In July 1989, ARF approved an annual student award as a memorial to Peyton Ward Williams, Jr., Professor Emeritus of English at MSU, the driving force behind ARF, and its first president. Professor Williams died during his term of office. The award is given each year to the student who submits the most outstanding paper of the year in MSU English classes. During the ARF Christmas banquet, the student selected is presented with a framed certificate, a $500 check, and a bound copy of the award-winning essay. Bound copies of the essay are also given to the MSU Library and to the English Department. The name of each student winner is engraved on a plaque prominently displayed in the English Department. The recipients of the Peyton Ward Williams, Jr. Distinguished Writing Award are as follows:

In 1992 ARF established a student award as a memorial to Charles E. Lindley, who was elected president of ARF for 1991-92. Dr. Lindley was the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for a number of years. Dr. Lindley died in December of 1991.

The award is given to an outstanding senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for "discharge of significant leadership responsibilities to the College and to Mississippi State University". The student is selected from the College Ambassadors, a leadership group of students for the college. This prestigious award is presented in honor of Dean Lindley. At the annual Christmas banquet, the student leader selected is presented with a framed certificate and a $500 check. The name of each award winner is engraved on a plaque that is prominently displayed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The recipients of the Charles E. Lindley Leadership Award are as follows:

This award was established in 1997 in honor and memory of MSU President William Lincoln Giles, a charter member of ARF. Dr. Giles served ARF in several capacities, including president and director, and served as president of MSU for 10 years.

The award is given each year to a student selected by the School of Architecture on the basis of academic excellence and overall leadership within the school. The student selected is presented with a framed certificate and a check for $500 at the annual ARF Christmas banquet. The name of each student selected is engraved on a plaque that is prominently displayed in the School of Architecture. Partial funding for the award comes from a contribution by Ms. Hazel Presson, aunt of Ginger Giles Jones, Dr. Giles' daughter. Dr. Giles died in 1997. The recipients of the William L. Giles Award for Excellence in Architecture are as follows:

After the August 20, 1999 "Salute to Dr. Harry Simrall", at the executive board meeting of October 7, 1999, the board voted to establish the Harry Charles F. Simrall Award for Engineering Excellence with a framed certificate and a check for $250 (award is now $500), to be awarded at the annual ARF Christmas banquet. The name of each student selected is engraved on a plaque that is prominently displayed in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. The College of Engineering faculty selects the outstanding Engineering student to whom the award is presented.

Dean Simrall was a charter member of ARF and a long time faithful supporter. He served the College of Engineering for 44 years before retiring in 1978. Dean Simrall died in April of 2003. The recipients of the Harry Simrall Award in Engineering Excellence are as follows:

In 2007, the ARF Executive Committee established a new award. This award, called the ARF Exemplary Service Award, honors an ARF member (either living or deceased). It is presented to a student enrolled in the ARF members’ Department of study. The monetary award is the same as other ARF awards (currently $500). This award is not presented each year. The following table lists the Student receiving the award, the ARF Exemplary Service Honoree and the Discipline in which the ARF Honoree served: