NOTE: Head shot of Mrs. Hawkins accompanies this release

TROY – Janice Hawkins, Troy University’s first lady, has been awarded the highest honor a presidential spouse can receive from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Mrs. Hawkins was one of four spouses honored with a special tribute at the opening general session of the recent AASCU national meeting. The AASCU Spouse Program was founded in the mid-1970s and in 1996 the presidents established the Annual AASCU Spouse Tribute. Twenty-three spouses have been selected for this high honor since its inception. The tribute included a published brochure containing written tributes from the presidents and chancellors to their spouses.

The core purpose of the AASCU spouse program is to offer an opportunity for spouses to meet and to share their ideas, experiences, program initiatives and concerns in a forum designed specifically for their needs, according to Jo Hern Curris, Director of Spouse Programs.

In addition, presentations are scheduled to assist spouses in their public role, such as ceremonial protocol for introductions of national and international dignitaries, name retention, media training, wellness issues, social and ethical controversies and mentoring of new spouses. At the annual meeting, Mrs. Hawkins presented a session on proper etiquette, modeled after her annual presentation to students in Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr.’s Capstone Leadership Class.

“Janice Hawkins serves TROY with great pride and joy and she is widely admired and loved by the AASCU membership, both by the presidents and the spouses,” Mrs. Curris said.

Other spouses recognized in the tribute were Raymond Cormier, husband of Patricia P. Cormier, President of Longwood (Va.) University; Judy Ingle, wife of Ronald R. Ingle, President of Coastal Carolina (S.C) University; and Steve Kozloff, husband of Jessica S. Kozloff, President of Bloomsburg (Pa.) University.

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