SGA announced on Monday a new annual award to recognize an administrator, faculty or staff member in honor of former Dean of Students Dr. Barry Jenkins, who is retiring this year.

The Dr. Barry Jenkins Award for Ourstanding Contributions to Student Life will honor a Mercer employee each spring for commitment and dedication to student affairs.

SGA president Trenton White said the new award was established as a way to pay tribute to Jenkins’ long record of service to the Mercer community.

“Dr. Jenkins has always been a friends of students and had our best interests in heart. This award will help us remember him for years to come,” White said.

SGA senators submitted eleven nominations for the award during its senate meeting Monday night. The nominees include Jeremy Baham, Carol Bokros, Heather Bowman-Cutway, Megan Delong,Eimad Houry, Carrie Ingoldsby, Diane Lang, Dale Moore, Jim Netherton, Eric Spears and Annie Stephens.

Senators will vote on the award at their weekly meeting next week. The winner of the award will be announced at the annual Student Leadership Awards banquet on April 28.

Also during Monday’s senate meeting:

• SGA voted 22-1 to amend the honor pledge found in the Mercer student handbook, The Lair. Former Honor Council Chief Justice Douglas Doud proposed the change.
Doud said the new amendment to the honor pledge reflects a more positive statement of affirmation that falls in line with Mercer’s community of respect.

• SGA Vice President Shannon Giddens announced that the SGA presidential debate will be held next Tuesday, March 22. The debate will feature candidates for next year’s SGA president and vice president.

“This is an important event for students to attend so that they can get a better understanding of the issues that affect campus and can ask questions of their potential new representatives,” Giddens said.

The presidential election for SGA will be held the next day, March 23.

Cluster staff writer Carl V. Lewis contributed to this report.