Robert O'Hara of North Augusta Honored at Coker College Graduation

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Robert O'Hara at Coker College's commencement May 1

HARTSVILLE, SC (05/05/2010)(readMedia)-- Robert O'Hara of North Augusta has received the 2010 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award from the faculty of Coker College. Given annually since 1962, the award recognizes excellence of character and service to humanity. It is presented in conjunction with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation of Oxford, Miss., and named for a 19th-century lawyer and humanitarian.

O'Hara received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award at Coker College's commencement on May 1, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts in history and an additional major in theater. He also earned a minor in business administration and a specialization in pre-law. Throughout his college career, O'Hara was a student leader on Coker's campus.

"Robert is an enthusiastic leader who contributed significantly to the Coker community," said Dr. Patricia Lincoln, Coker College's provost and dean of the faculty.

For the last two years, O'Hara was a student representative on the Coker College Board of Trustees. As a trustee, he served on several committees that focused on issues in student development, faculty and education policy, curriculum and enrollment.

In 2007, O'Hara started volunteering in Coker College's Office of Student Services to help plan and implement new student orientation. For three summers, he worked for Coker Connection, where incoming students get to know each other and learn about college life. He was also a Coker Ambassador in the admissions office, giving campus tours to prospective students.

O'Hara was a resident assistant in Coker College's residence halls for two years. He was also active in the student government association, serving as vice president, chair of elections, and senior class treasurer. He was a long-time member of the Coker College Union, the student programming board.

For several years, O'Hara performed with the Coker Singers, the college's premiere vocal ensemble. In 2009, he was accepted into the Coker Chamber Singers, an auditioned choir of select vocalists. Both groups perform and travel on a regular basis.

Academically, O'Hara was named to the Coker College Dean's List twice and last year he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society. He also received several academic scholarships as a Coker student. Last fall, O'Hara's classmates voted him Homecoming King.

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