Perree Collier, Lower School fifth grade teacher; Owen Kinney, Upper School Environmental Science and Georgia Natural History instructor, eleventh grade class adviser, assistant head coach varsity boys soccer, and member of the Student Support Team; Sally Muschamp, Middle School sixth grade English and class adviser; and Donald Sweeney, Physics II and AP Physics instructor and head junior varsity boys soccer coach, were honored for their highly regarded service to Darlington by receiving the Brown Awards at the annual Faculty Appreciation Dinner at Coosa Country Club, on May 9.
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Brown established the award, which includes a monetary gift, in memory of their son, James Douglas Brown ’65. The Browns wished to reward the faculty members “for their kindness and for their influence” and to honor faculty members who promote positive leadership within the Darlington community. Faculty are nominated by their colleagues and selected for “excellence in teaching” by the president, headmaster, and principals of the Lower and Middle schools.
The following faculty received service awards during the dinner also: five years, Darla Betts, Brian Boone, Karen DiRuggiero, Stefan Eady, Mark Gibbons, Mark Hoven, Bill King, Sondra McGuire, Merritt Newton, Ken Wempe, Casey Zimmer, and Libbie Zimmer; 10 years, Fran Buice, Kathy Drennon, and Emily Stuckey; 15 years, Pat Waddell, and Suzanne Goldberg; 20 years, Sally MacLeod and Sam Moss; 25 years, Tollie Ross; and 40 years, Gordon Neville. Lower School teachers Betty Ruth Blanton and Beth Starnes were also recognized as retiring this year.
Skip Saunders, English II, III-H, and Journalism teacher, college adviser, 12th grade class advisor, IMPACT Club Adviser, varsity wrestling assistant coach, and adviser to The Darlingtonian student newspaper, received the George W. Awsumb Faculty Award. This cash award is given annually to the faculty member who exemplifies a personal commitment to the education and well being of students by instructing and challenging students, being involved in diverse extracurricular activities, and by empowering students with self-confidence and the desire to learn.
