TROY – Troy University students will be recognized during Honors Convocation on Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in the Claudia Crosby Theater.

Barbara Patterson, director of student involvement and leadership, said the convocation is a celebration of students’ academic achievement during the year.

Throughout the evening, many academic departments will present awards to deserving students, honor societies will recognize new members and special awards will be presented.

Among the awards are the Ingalls Award, presented to the outstanding faculty member of the year, and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, given to a senior male and female student and to a distinguished faculty or staff member.

“Recipients of this award exhibit fine spiritual qualities and outstanding leadership and service,” Patterson said.

Danny Patterson, senior location executive for IBM in Mobile and Pensacola, will be the event’s keynote speaker.

A native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Patterson obtained his bachelor’s degree in economics in 1974 from Carleton College of Northfield, Minn. He joined IBM in 1978 and then moved to Mobile in 1987, gaining recognition as the first African-American marketing manager of sales operations in the IBM Mobile and Pensacola locations.

In 1995, Patterson received the IBM Chairman’s Award for successful leadership at the Mercedes-Benz U.S. assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, and in 2002, he established the Lighthouse Community Development Corporation to assist the underserved residents of southwest Mobile County.

Patterson currently serves as chairman for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and is a member of both Mobile Rotary and Leadership Alabama.

The Honors Convocation is free and open to the public.

A reception provided by the National Alumni Association will immediately follow the awards ceremony.

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