The Laney Awards

The Frank and Rachel Anne Laney Award recognizes the graduating senior who has written the finest essay reflecting on the value of a Millsaps liberal arts education.

In order to satisfy the Senior Writing Reflection on the Millsaps Experience requirement, all graduating seniors must submit essays in which they reflect on the value of their liberal arts education. A faculty panel chooses 10 finalists whose papers are published as a record of the seniors’ reflections. The one winning essay is then selected each year for the Laney Award based upon its excellence in thought and expression. In order to pass down the wisdom of the graduating seniors, the winning paper will become required reading for incoming freshmen the following year.

The award was established in honor of Frank and Rachel Anne Laney as a tribute to their commitment to excellence in higher education. Dr. Laney was a professor of history for 34 years at Millsaps. During his tenure he served as dean of the college from 1962 to 1969 and chaired the History Department from 1971 to 1984, during which time he was named Distinguished Professor of the Year. In 1987, he helped organize and lead the college’s successful effort to secure a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.

Mrs. Laney was Frank’s best friend and is loved by all who meet her. She is gracious and supportive to faculty and staff alike and attended nearly every event at Millsaps — student recitals, singers and players performances, football games, lecture events and ceremonial occasions. In short, Dr. and Mrs. Laney worked tirelessly on behalf of the college.

Millsaps prides itself on being an institution that teaches students not what to think, but how to think — and we now have the Laney Award to honor and preserve our students’ thoughts about the college, our philosophy of teaching and the life well lived.

The Frank and Rachel Anne Laney Award is made possible through the generosity of the Phil Hardin Foundation.

The Laney Award is one of three awards presented at commencement. Contact the Writing Center for information on how to submit your essay.