MACON – Mercer University awarded Kenneth A. Taft of Manor the Louie D. Newton General Excellence Medal at Mercer’s commencement ceremony May 12 at the Macon Coliseum.
The Louie D. Newton General Excellence Medal is presented to the graduating student who best exemplifies scholastic achievement, personal integrity and character, service to the campus community and a commitment to spiritual values. The award is named is honor of Newton, former Mercer professor, Christian journalist, distinguished pastor and renowned denominational leader.
Taft, who doubled majored in economics and political science, has been placed on the Dean’s List each semester and the President’s List for three semesters. He has received the Mercerian Award and selected for Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. He was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma and Pi Alpha honor societies, serving as president of the latter.
Providing leadership in Mercer’s judicial system during his four years, Taft served as defender advocate, associate chief justice and chief justice. He was also an orientation assistant, parliamentarian of the Student Government Association and a member of the Freshman Advisory Board.
A graduate of Ware County Magnet School, he is the son of Shannon and Kenneth Taft of Manor.
Founded in 1833, Mercer is a 7,300-student, comprehensive, Baptist-affiliated university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees through the College of Liberal Arts, the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, the Tift College of Education, the School of Engineering, the Walter F. George School of Law, the School of Medicine, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, the Southern School of Pharmacy and the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology.
Mercer University has campuses in Macon and Atlanta, as well as four extended education centers located in Douglas County, Covington, Griffin and Eastman. The University also operates the Mercer Engineering Research Center in Warner Robins and the Mercer University Press in Macon. For the past 12 years, Mercer has been ranked among the leading universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report.
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