Morningside student named National Leader of the Year by honor society

LEXINGTON, Va. (KCAU) — A senior at Morningside University has been given a prestigious national honor by the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) honor society.

Hannah Harris from Homer, Nebraska was named the 2024 Omicron Delta Kappa Gen. Russell A. Dougherty National Leader of the Year. The award is given to one undergraduate member of the society every year.

A 2021 initiate of Morningside University’s ODK circle, Harris will graduate with a 4.0 GPA in May and receive a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. She is also a first-generation college student and plans to attend the University of Nebraska College of Medicine this fall.

During her time at Morningside, Harris has served as president of the school’s ODK circle, as well as president of the Sustainable Environment Association and the Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society. Among many other things, she served as an organizer for the circle’s Into the Streets event , which saw over 800 student volunteers serve at over 100 nonprofits in one day.

“I feel incredibly honored to have received this award,” Harris said. “Serving my campus community for the past four years has meant the world to me. I am thankful for the connections I’ve made, the skills I have developed, and the leadership experiences ODK has given me.”

According to the ODK website , the society, which has over 300 chapters across the country, “recognizes and encourages superior leadership and exemplary character” in its members.

“We are incredibly proud of Hannah,” Leslie Werden, faculty advisor for the Morningside University circle, said. “She emulates intellect, strength, humility, and kindness in all projects she undertakes. She has imprinted her service-minded nature to our entire circle this year, providing a catalyst and spark for the entire campus.”

Harris also received a $4,000 prize as part of the award. Five other student members across the country received $1,000 awards in specific categories.

Harris is the second Morningside student to be named Gen. Russell E. Dougherty National Leader of the Year. Tracy Gates won the award in 2017 .

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