MOUNT OLIVE- Allison Czerski of Charleston, SC received the distinguished Dr. Thomas R. Morris Award for Academic Excellence at Mount Olive College’s 57th Fall Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 18.

The $3,000 cash award is given to the baccalaureate graduate who best exemplifies serious academic pursuit and love and breadth of learning. The recipient must have been a full-time student and is selected by a committee of faculty members and Student Government Association representatives.

This year's recipient, Allison Czerski, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor of arts degree in English. Czerski’s college activities have included being team captain and student assistant for the Trojan softball team, being a Student Athlete mentor, and serving on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Czerski has been recognized by the NCFA as a Scholar Athlete and has earned the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Academic Achievement Award. She has spent the last three summers as a student intern in Bangkok, Thailand at the US Embassy. After graduation Czerski plans to pursue graduate studies and one day become a coach at the collegiate level.

Benefactor of the Morris Award is retired Goldsboro optometrist, Dr. Thomas R. Morris. A native of Nahunta in Wayne County, Dr. Morris was raised in the Union Grove OFWB Church. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he now resides in Wilmington.

For more information, visit www.moc.edu.