Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Christine Evans has received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the University of Alabama’s highest undergraduate honor.

Nationally recognized, the Sullivan Award identifies top caliber in scholarship, campus leadership and humanitarian service. One male and one female senior receive the award, named for a 19th-century New York lawyer and philanthropist.

Evans entitled her application essay, “Hakuna Matata,” “which literally means ‘there are no worries’ in Kiswahili, as I learned when taking Swahili 101 and 102 classes in preparation for going to Kenya.”

In Kenya, she interned with the non-profit Africa Exchange to construct and install bio-sand filters in 25 homes. “People of character should have an outward focus such that they are always striving to make the world around them better,” Evans said in her essay.

At UA, Evans is president of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, Society of Women Engineers and numerous other honorary groups. She played mellophone in the Million Dollar Band and was principal oboist for concert band, wind ensemble and symphonic band.

In other recognition, she was named outstanding junior in mechanical engineering in 2012, maintains a 4.0 grade point average and earned several scholarships.

In volunteer work, Evans tutored high school students in advanced-placement calculus and helped in tornado cleanup, with Habitat for Humanity and the Navigators Campus Ministry.

Evans was a guest at a dinner award ceremony in February for the Sullivan Award and will be recognized at another honors event on April 4.

In May, Evans will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Last November, she accepted a position with Exxon Mobile in Houston.

Her parents Charles and DeeDee Evans recently wrote a letter of gratitude to their daughter’s former teachers and principal Robby Parker at Bob Jones High School “for the role you played in helping her become the student and individual she is today.”