By Rachel Westcott

Lee University recently recognized Victor Alex Ubiera as the recipient of the 2016 F.J. Lee Award. Lee President Dr. Paul Conn presented Ubiera with this award on Tuesday, April 12, 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.

“Alex’s engagement on campus and in the surrounding communities clearly demonstrates his passion for excellence and his heart of service,” said Dr. Linda Thompson, chairperson of the School of Music’s department of music education. “Alex has lived out his commitment to empower others. He has experienced and contributed to Lee to the fullest extent possible, and in every way, Alex exemplifies the values and character worthy of the F. J. Lee award.”

During his time at Lee, Ubiera has been a Kairos scholar and involved in academic clubs Phi Eta Sigma, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the American Choral Director’s Association. He served in Crossover Ministries, Greek Day of Service, and local public school service projects around the community.

Ubiera was the secretary then president of Tau Kappa Omega while acting as a Big Brother in Omega Alpha Phi. He worked on campus in residential life as a floor leader, resident assistant, resident chaplain, and then discipleship ministries coordinator. He also worked within Lee’s Spanish department as a teacher’s assistant, writing center tutor, and café host.

Within the School of Music, Ubiera sang in Choral Union, Chorale, Lee Singers, and chapel band. He also served on the dean’s advisory council.

In addition, Ubiera served as a Peer Leader within Lee University’s First Year Programs office, a benevolence teacher’s assistant, and a student worker for Campus Ministries.

“Alex is an outstanding, well-rounded student who consistently demonstrates and truly lives out the qualities of the F. J. Lee Award,” said Luann Holden, associate professor of music.

Holden worked with Ubiera in numerous capacities, including in his role as Peer Leader. According to Holden, he is a model for other students, exhibiting exceptional interpersonal skills and building strong relationships in his time at Lee.

“He is the epitome of all that the F. J. Lee award represents,” continued Holden.

“I am so incredibly honored to have been chosen as the recipient of the F.J. Lee Award. To have been chosen among such talented and intelligent peers by the entire Lee faculty is a testament of God’s grace and favor,” said Ubiera. “I hope that I am able to represent the Lee University family well as I continue on in graduate studies and in my future career.”

Ubiera will graduate summa cum laude in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in music education, and minors in Spanish, church music, and Bible.