University honoring sextet with awards honoring legacy of MLK

The University will honor five people and one department with Martin Luther King Jr. Awards on Jan. 24. Faculty member Candace Lapan, staffers Akira Webb and Tariah Harrell, students Natalia Flores and Neylan Mason, and the Music Department will receive awards for exemplifying the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

The awards banquet, which begins at 5 p.m. in LaVerne Banquet Hall, is open to the public. Space is limited; RSVP by Wednesday at 11 a.m. if you plan to attend. The Reverend Dr. Samuel J. Murray of Indianapolis will speak on the topic of "cultivating capacity to care for others."

Award winners

Faculty member: Dr. Candace Lapan

Lapan, an associate professor of psychology, has served the University for over six years as an educator and community advocate. Lapan "works tirelessly toward unconditional inclusion and belonging for all community members," her nominator said, and she often provides guidance and support for community members who have been traditionally or historically underrepresented on campus. Lapan has helped lead efforts to better understand the campus climate around diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Lapan is the advisor for Prizm, the student organization that supports LGBTQ+ student.

"The campus community is better because of people like Dr. Lapan," her nominator said. "She is a part of everything that Wingate University is doing right to make sure that everyone feels included. We are better because she is here."

Undergraduate student: Natalia A. Flores

Flores, a senior biology major, has served as a key member of the First Generation Bulldog Executive Team for the past three years. She is a dynamic leader who has distinguished herself among her peers as an officer in the Latin American Student Association.

"Flores' contributions to the community of first-generation students have helped to make the program stronger and more impactful," her nominator said. "It is her organizational skills and her deep empathy that make her worthy of this award.

"Natalia is among the strongest of student leaders here at Wingate University. She always strives to make people feel included and a part of the community. She is a sincere and emotionally mature young woman with a bright future."

Graduate student: Neylan C. Mason

Mason is in her first year in the master of public health program, which has a concentration in health education and promotion. In addition to having earned her undergraduate degree at Wingate, she is also the first graduate-retention assistant for the First Gen Bulldog mentoring community. Mason serves as a resource and guide for first-year, first-generation students in the mentoring program, and she also led the effort to create a student DEIB Council, consisting of leaders from registered student organizations that serve underrepresented students.

"Mason is known and loved across the entire student body because of her passion and commitment to caring for everyone," her nominator said. "She served as a Residence Life staff member during her undergraduate years and brings that same acumen and precision to her work with first-generation students. She is a rare jewel who lives and works by a creed of justice and inclusion."

Organization or department: The Music Department

The Music Department has been actively advancing the understanding of DEIB issues and pedagogy among faculty and students for four years. "Members of the department have made their curriculum more diverse, and they support a diverse student group with empathy and resources," the department's nominator said. Dr. Jessie Wright Martin, chair of the department, has championed efforts to promote a sense of belonging for all students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Wingate alumna: Tariah Harrell

Harrell, recently promoted to director of community standards, works to foster an atmosphere of inclusivity, equality and mentorship, according to her nominator. Harrell believes in rights for all people, especially the students at Wingate University and she is the go-to for many students who need someone to talk to about their personal problems or who just need to see a friendly face. "While she gives tough love, students feel comfortable coming to her to ask for advice and to have laughs that make for a better day," her nominator said.

Additionally, Harrell has expanded the curriculum that was originated for the program Girl Talk to address issues that young college women face. "I have loved seeing her passion for helping college women deal with conflict and empower themselves to be the best they can be," her nominator said. "Tariah is well deserving of the MLK Leadership Award. She is growing leaders here at Wingate University."

Staff member: Akira Webb

Webb works tirelessly as an Academic Resource Center coordinator to make sure that all students she supports get the help that they need. "She is here early and often stays late," her nominator said. "She makes sure that our students are served in a timely and efficient manner. I think Akira sees her job here as more of a mission than just a paycheck. She has been given the opportunity to serve elsewhere but has stayed at Wingate when many around her have left. I believe she has done so because she has a heart for Wingate and for the students that she serves."

Jan. 17, 2025

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