Aurora University Award Honors Class of '56

AURORA, Ill. November 1, 2006- Ronald Simcox of Geneva accepted Aurora University's Spirit Award on behalf of the Aurora College class of 1956 at the Aurora Country Club on Oct. 6.

AU President Rebecca L. Sherrick presented the award, a brass lantern, at a golden reunion of AU alumni held during homecoming.

Simcox, a 1956 graduate of Aurora College (AC), earlier in the evening announced a $4,400 gift to AU from class of 1956 alumni for a podium and plant stands in Crimi Auditorium at the Institute for Collaboration.

The Spirit Award was created in 1985 by the AU Alumni Association to recognize persons for unselfish contributions and steadfast loyalty to the Alumni Association and all its constituents. The lantern symbolizes the recipient's love of and devotion to the ideals and people of the institution and the nurturing of the Spartan spirit.

Simcox said, "Our small group of graduates thought it fitting that we present a memorial gift to the university. We thought it should be special for this special occasion of the anniversary of our 50^th year since graduation."

He said most of 42 class of 1956 alumni across the nation contributed to the gift in response to contacts by Simcox and other class members. A memorial plate will identify the furniture.

"My AC program provided me with the leadership opportunities that I never could have achieved in any other environment," Simcox said. "I thank the AC staff, teachers and administrators for making my dreams come true."