News

Lee University recently announced Audrey Dutton as the winner of the 2024 F.J. Lee Award. Dutton was recognized for this honor during a special chapel service in April.  

This annual award was established in 1968 in honor of the second president of Lee University. It is presented to the Lee senior with the overall most outstanding record of student achievement. Award winners demonstrate high standards of integrity, leadership, service, broad campus involvement, and academic excellence. Each department may nominate one student for the award, and from these nominees, a winner is selected by a faculty vote.  

“Audrey Dutton is one of the most exceptional students I have worked with,” said Dr. Sherry Kasper, professor of biology. “Not only is she an excellent student, but she is significantly involved in the Lee community. She embodies the spirit of the F.J. Lee Award.”  

Dutton is the three-year captain of Lee’s Women’s Lacrosse team, president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, president of Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Med Honors Society, and a member of the Tri-Beta Biology Honors Society. She has also worked as a peer leader, a student worker in the Natural Sciences Department, and a social psychology teacher’s assistant.  

Dutton is a part of Chi Alpha Sigma, the Student-Athlete Honor Society, and has been on the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Academic Honor Roll, the Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Roll, and the Lee University’s Dean List. She also received the Milton and Lois Riley Assistantship Scholarship and the Hicks Scholar Award for biology and chemistry.  

“I never could have imagined the impact that Lee would have on me when I arrived four years ago,” said Dutton, a senior biology major with a pre-physician’s assistant emphasis and a psychology minor from Lawrenceville, Georgia. “As each challenge and experience came my way, I was able to grow and learn in both me and my faith. This award is such an honor as it has shown me that all the hard work has paid off, and that I was able to leave my mark on the school that means so much to me.”  

In addition to her academic success and extracurricular activities, Dutton has participated in several acts of service, including being a volunteer coach for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Georgia Lacrosse and a summer travel lacrosse team, working with the Austin Hatcher Foundation and the Special Olympics baseball team, and doing community work with the lacrosse team at Lee.  

After graduation, Dutton plans to return to Georgia to teach high school biology and chemistry as well as coach lacrosse.