Florida State University’s Faculty Senate presented four honored members of the university community its annual Torch Award at dinner and reception on December 4th. Established in 1996, Torch Awards are bestowed on “those who have contributed to the university’s academic excellence.” Nominations are made by FSU faculty members to an award committee who then provide recommendations to the Faculty Senate Steering Committee.

The award is named for the torches displayed on FSU’s seal (Vires, Artes, Mores) and includes the categories of:

• Vires – symbolizing moral, physical, and intellectual strength;
• Artes – symbolizing an appreciation of aesthetics and the beauty of intellectual pursuits, and;
• Mores – symbolizing respect for customs, character, and tradition.

Two Vires and two Mores awards were presented to this year’s recipients.
 

Guy Spearman

Guy Spearman is a well-recognized lobbyist and an active alumnus of the FSU College of Social Work (MSW, 1975). He received the Mores Award “in recognition of his commitment as a patron of FSU’s academic, alumni, and athletic programs.

He was recruited by Governor Reubin Askew early in his career to serve on his staff before he began his successful lobbyist career. Throughout his career, he has made a difference in improving the lives of others. Guy and his wife Delores Spearman, also a two-time FSU alumni have long track records of philanthropic efforts, including those that support the university and the College of Social Work.

In 2013, through the Spearman’s generosity, the College’s CSW Arts & Athletics Program was created to serve youths in the Tallahassee community, including those with limited social and economic opportunities. The brainchild of Emeritus Dean and Professor Dr. Nick Mazza, Arts & Athletics combines arts and athletics activities as a means to introduce middle school-aged youths to the university environment, with the goal of encouraging them to pursue higher education. Now in its sixth year, the program encourages positive youth development through leadership activities, confidence building, socialization and life skills through its activities on FSU campus.

He serves on the College of Social Work Leadership Council, and he and Delores created the Guy and Delores Spearman Scholarship to support undergraduate and graduate social work students from Brevard County, Florida. He was recognized for his contributions and dedication to the College of Social Work in 2013 when he was awarded the College’s Distinguished Alumni in Social Policy and Administration Award.

Guy and Delores Spearman have also supported several other programs at Florida State including the Unconquered Scholars Program, the Veterans Film Festival, the Veterans’ Support Fund, the Marching Chiefs Instrument Fund and many more. They each serve on several FSU direct-support organization boards. Both were also inducted into the FSU Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold, for individuals whose service and achievements reflect FSU’s tradition of excellence.
 

Ashbel “Ash” C. Williams

Ash Williams also received the Mores award for dedicate service to Florida State. He is the executive director and chief investment officer of the Florida State Board of Administration and an alumnus of the College of Business. Williams began a career in public service after graduation from FSU, serving as a legislative assistant to two speakers of the Florida House. He worked in both the public and private sector before beginning in his current position in 2008.

He served on the FSU Foundation’s Board of Trustees and is the chairman of the FSU Foundation’s Investment Committee. His service has impacted countless FSU students and faculty. Williams and his wife Jan established a College of Business and had provided financial support to the College of Business, College of Music and FSU Libraries for many years.He also recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chief Investment Officer’s Industry Innovation Awards Ceremony in New York City.
 

Jan Moran

Jan Moran is one of the recipients of the Vires Award for her support of the entrepreneurial activities at FSU. She is both a philanthropist and president of The Jim Moran Foundation. “Moran has worked tirelessly to ensure her late husband Jim Moran’s legacy and entrepreneurial spirit live on at Florida State.” Continuing this strong record of advocacy for entrepreneurship, she and the Jim Moran Foundation provided a $100 million gift to create the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship, with its inaugural class beginning in the fall of 2017. Their gifts also continue to sustain the Jim Mora Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, established by Jim Moran in 1995, and which focuses on assisting Florida-based business owners and entrepreneurial leadership.

Moran’s legacy is also perpetuated through the Jim Moran Scholarship program, awarding four-year scholarships each year to African American high school seniors demonstrating leadership qualities while facing financial challenges.
 

Kirby Kemper

Professor Emeritus Kirby Kemper also received the Vires Award for a multitude of contributions to FSU. He started his career at FSU in 1968 and served in several leadership positions including director of the Nuclear Accelerator Laboratory (1990-1997), chair of the physics department chair (1997-2003), and vice president for research (2003-2012). Kemper remains an active member of the university community, representing FSU at functions around the world, conducting research experiments, and leading a search committee for an endowed chair.

The Torch Awards were established in 1996 to allow FSU faculty members to honor friends of the university who have contributed significantly to its ability to realize its academic mission.

For more information, visit http://facsenate.fsu.edu.