LAURINBURG – St. Andrews University has a long tradition of awarding the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, named for Algernon and Mary Sullivan, a late 19th century couple who lived in New York City but had deep family ties to the south. During their lives, they committed themselves to offering service and aid to others both personally and through their financial support for countless causes and charities.
The presentation of The Sullivan Foundation Awards is an honored tradition during commencement at St. Andrews. The award is intended to recognize nobility of character in those people who, in their daily life, habitually go “outside the narrow circle of self-interest” and expend their energies in the service of others.
During the 123rd annual commencement, Glenn Batten, vice president for administration at St. Andrews, presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award to Roylin Hammond.
Hammond served Scotland County and the state of North Carolina for more than 35 years. As the Scotland County director of emergency services, Hammond was responsible for coordinating the responses when emergent situations arose. He organized emergency medical services, emergency planning, emergency response, disaster recovery and other lifesaving and life enhancing services before earning his retirement in February 2021.
The Chamber of Commerce Oyster Roast, held annually at the St. Andrews Equestrian Center, would not be possible without the aid of Roylin and his wife, Dee. With the help of the Hammonds, the event has become one of the premier town events in Scotland County. The cherished annual oyster roast always brings the residents of Scotland County, the surrounding areas, and St. Andrews together as one beloved community.
“Over the last few years, the St. Andrews and Scotland County communities were greatly impacted by Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Florence and the Covid-10 pandemic,” Batten said. “Roylin Hammond stood by this community through it all. His steady and calm demeanor, his wisdom gained from experience and his genuinely caring nature brought us all through those disasters and made the community stronger as a result.”
The Sullivan Awards are sponsored by the New York Southern Society for the purpose of recognizing the spiritual qualities of the recipients as reflected in their selfless gift of their time and energy in the service of others.
In the sponsor’s words: “It is the desire of the Society that the Award shall be made only in recognition of fine spiritual qualities practically applied to daily living, as distinct from high scholarship, athletic achievement, success in business, professional ability, political leadership, or mere worldly prominence in any calling. Nevertheless, by no means does the society fail to realize that the highest spiritual and humanitarian qualities can be found in intimate and inseparable association with a successful pursuit of any of such followings.”
Michelle K. Habick is the director of public relations and media for St. Andrews University.
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