Michael Fernando, a junior from Colombo, Sri Lanka, majoring in accounting, international business and economics, was named the Honors Program Olympian and presented his award during the Tusculum College Honors Convocation program on Thursday, April 30.
“It is with great honor that I get to present the Honors Olympian award today,” said Dr. Michelle Freeman, professor of business administration at Tusculum College.
The Honors Olympian Award is presented to the Honors Program student who best exemplifies the ideals of the Tusculum College Honors Program through academia success, civic engagement and service to the community, according to Dr. Tom Harlow, associate professor of psychology and director of the Tusculum College Honors Program.
The award goes to the student in the Honors Program who has been the most active on campus and in the community as evidenced by the following criteria: participation in multiple student organizations, serving as an officer in an organization, serving in the Bonner Leaders Program, community service, serving as a residents’ assistant, participation on a college sport team, membership in the President’s Society, performance in the arts and academic scholarship. In instances of ties, the recipient is determined by cumulative grade point average.
“Michael had his very first block one class with me in Accounting I,” said Dr. Freeman. “If that is not amazing enough, after only one block, I knew he was more than ready to take on an internship. I had never recommended a freshman for an internship before, much less a block one freshman.”
Fernando has made an impact on the Tusculum campus. He is an active member of the Student Government Association, its Budgets and Organization Committee, the Study Abroad and Global Awareness organization, Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature and Business Club.
Fernando provides mentoring and guidance to his fellow students as a resident assistant in one of the resident halls on campus that predominantly houses freshman students. He has also been involved in Theatre-at-Tusculum, including a memorable role as “The Ghost of Christmas Past” in the 2013 production of “The Christmas Carol.”
An excellent student, he has been named to the President’s and Dean’s List during his time at Tusculum. His excellence as a freshman in an accounting course typically taken by upperclassmen led to an internship position at Plus Mark. Fernando is now serving an internship at the accounting firm of Blackburn Childers and Steagall.
Michael Fernando, left, receives Honors Olympian Award from Dr. Tom Harlow.