Lee University recently recognized Maddie
Taylor as the recipient of the 2015 F.J. Lee Award. University President, Dr.
Paul Conn presented Taylor with this award on Tuesday, April 21, during the
Honors Chapel.

This annual award was established in 1968 in honor of
the second president of Lee University. It is presented to a senior at Lee who
has demonstrated 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. 

“It was such an honor even to be nominated
for this award among so many wonderful students,” said Taylor. “Receiving the
award gives me a deep sense of respect and gratitude toward my professors. Each
one of them has had a profound impact on me, and I am humbled that they would
recognize me in this way.”

While at Lee, Taylor served as a volunteer
English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor with Bridge Refugee Services as well as
the coordinator of women’s fellowship at Havenplace Community Youth Center. 

In 2014, she was a volunteer teacher at the English Language Center on
campus, where she taught free ESL classes to those in the community. 

During the summers of 2011 and 2012, she served in Oradea, Romania, with
community development and discipleship. 

“Rarely have I observed a
student who has attained high levels of success in such a diversity of areas as
Maddie,” said Dr. Phillip Thomas, chair of the Department of Musicianship
Studies. “She is an intelligent, unassuming young woman who is applauded by
multiple departments and professors.”

Taylor was a member of Alpha
Chi Honors Society and was featured in the School of Music’s Honors Recital in
2013 and 2014. 

In December 2014, Taylor graduated summa cum laude
with a bachelor’s degree in vocal music, a bachelor’s in anthropology, and a
minor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).