From Left to Right: President Prather, Camden Carlile, Ezra Schwier, Dean Flora

Franklin College sophomores Camden Carlile and Ezra Schwier received the esteemed Laurels and Lancers Awards during the annual Opening Convocation and Bell Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 25.  Each year, two outstanding students are recognized for their first-year academic and campus-community achievements.

As award winners, Carlile and Schwier had the privilege of signaling the start of the academic year by ringing the ceremonial college bell. They each received framed certificates as keepsakes, and their names are engraved on the Laurels and Lancers Trophy, which is on display at the college.

“Our Laurels and Lancers Award, conferred by vote of the faculty, acknowledges the excellence of two outstanding sophomore students based on academic success and campus involvement as first year students,” said Kristin C. Flora, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Camden and Ezra serve as great role models for their peers on how to fully take advantage of all that Franklin College has to offer both inside and outside the classroom.”

Carlile embraced involvement outside of the classroom before he even set foot on campus his first year. After receiving an email during the summer of 2022 from the college’s career services office concerning an internship opportunity with Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, Carlile decided to apply and secured the internship. As he started classes in the fall of his freshman year, the history and French major, with a minor in international relations, was also traveling to Carmel for 16-18 hours per week to work in the congresswoman’s office, assisting with scheduling, responding to constituents and working on military academy nominations.

Carlile also applied and was selected for the college’s Intercultural Honors Experience, a prestigious undergraduate research seminar, which he completed during the spring semester. Currently, he is working on campus for The Write Place, assisting his peers with building confidence and improving written communication. Carlile, a dean’s list student, is the son of David and Melissa Carlile of Trafalgar. He is a former resident of Nashville (Brown County High School).

Schwier is the son of Randy and Beth Schwier of New Palestine. He is an exercise science major on the pre-physician’s assistant track. Schwier was recognized for his academic excellence by earning a spot on the President’s List following the spring 2023 semester, signifying a perfect 4.0 GPA for the term.

Schwier is a member of the men’s tennis team, a natural transition after being named the Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year by the Daily Reporter Newspaper during his senior year at New Palestine High school. Schwier is also involved in flag football and basketball intramurals on campus.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

POSTED Sep 8, 2023