Tag: Habitat for Humanity

Auburn gymnast Meredith Sylvia receives Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award

On Monday, Auburn University announced that senior gymnast Meredith Sylvia is a recipient of this year’s Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. 

On Monday Auburn University announced that senior gymnast Meredith Sylvia is a recipient of this year’s Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.

Each year Auburn University honors two senior students with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. The award is named after notable New York attorney and humanitarian Algernon Sydney Sullivan who founded the New York Southern Society (now Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation) with the mission to promote,

“The welfare of mankind and to continue, carry out and further the philanthropies and philanthropic aims of the late Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Hammond Sullivan, and more particularly to contribute funds for the support, education, maintenance, care and training of children of any age and circumstance.”

The award honors students who demonstrate exceptional character and integrity as well as a commitment to serve others.

Sylvia is set to graduate this spring with a degree in conservation biology. She plans to earn her Masters in Arts in education and become a middle school science teacher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEJTPTVhyY4

As a gymnast Sylvia was one of the Tigers most reliable specialists on the beam. The consistent SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient was also reliable within the Auburn community with service dedicated to the Lee County Humane Society, Our House, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Since the start of the COVID19 pandemic Sylvia has assisted the Lee County Humane Society by providing care for more than 20 animals. Sylvia provided great relief to local overflowing animal shelters by becoming a foster home.

Through Our House Sylvia tutored and mentored local elementary and middle school students by assisting them with classwork. Our House is a non-profit organization that supplies resources to underprivileged families.

For several years now Sylvia and the Auburn gymnastics team have participated in the annual Downtown Trick or Treat event through the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The festive Halloween activity allows athletes to greet fans and pass out candy to kids. Individually she has visited several local elementary schools to encourage the importance of exercise and display her gymnastics abilities. Sylvia has taken part in several Habitat for Humanity service projects through Auburn SAAC by serving as a volunteer in 2017 and service project coordinator in 2019.