Russell Brodie, director of the Office of Global Study Abroad and International Programs, and Jill Ricks, a junior from High Point, NC majoring in psychology, are recipients of the 2014 Lawrence M. Clark Awards. They will be honored at the second annual Lawrence M. Clark Community Dinner on March 25 at the McKimmon Center located at 1101 Gorman Street. It is sponsored by the North Carolina State University’s African American Cultural Center.

The dinner celebrates a collaboration involving North Carolina State University, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University and diverse members in the community. The theme for this year is “Opening Doors” recognizing the humanitarian leaders, faculty and students for academic excellence and engaged scholarship.

Brodie will receive the Lawrence M. Clark Faculty Excellence Award. This award honors the achievement of a faculty who has demonstrated excellence in research, engaged in scholarship as well as engaged in developing, improving and building culturally competent communities locally and nationally.

“I am excited and humbled by my recognition for this award,” Brodie said. “Receiving this honor when Dr. Dudley Flood and Ambassador James Joseph are also being honored is very special because of all that they have accomplished in our community. The award just inspires me to work even harder to advocate for our students, engage our community on an international level, and continue to open doors for young scholars.”

Ricks will be awarded the Lawrence M. Clark Student Achievement Award. This award is given to a student that exemplifies academic achievement, demonstrates a commitment to dedicate time, talent and resources to transform the campus and/or the local community, leads in social justice initiatives and is incompliance with university academic criteria.

Dr. Lawrence M. Clark was committed to international engagement and research. He worked on local, national and transnational initiatives to provide opportunities through which students, faculty and members of the community could engage internationally. He also created numerous, sustainable programs focused on academic achievement, cultural awareness, a commitment to social justice and a demonstrated commitment to giving back to the community.