Recipients of the 2006 Legacy Award

Tommy and Jean Ammons

Frances S. McNeill

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The Vardell Award

Named in honor of Dr. Charles Graves Vardell and his wife, Linda Lee Rumple Vardell, this award is intended to draw attention to the contribution of these educational pioneers and encourage support of the Flora Macdonald Legacy Foundation and its mission. 

As its founder and first president, Dr. Vardell, through his visionary leadership, guided Flora Macdonald College for thirty-four years. At his side, Linda Lee Vardell, an honors graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, founded the college's conservatory of music and earned the college a place of prominence in the music world.

The standard of excellence established by this educational team still resonates through generations of women and through the lives of those fortunate enough to know and to have known these women.  Furthermore, it is thanks to this legacy that we today have the Flora Macdonald Campus, with its beautiful gardens and historic structures – testaments to vision and unwavering dedication.

This dedication was further honored when in 1964 a girl’s preparatory school and junior college opened on the campus bearing the name, "Vardell".  Vardell Hall existed for close to ten years, and the graduates of this institution continue to make their mark in the fields of business, commerce and education.

While Dr. and Mrs. Vardell’s original vision for the campus has changed over the years, a strong commitment to education continues through Flora Macdonald Academy; and it is with great pride that citizens of Red Springs and the Cape Fear region remember a man with a vision for a college and his wife who was determined to provide a conservatory beyond compare in the Southeastern United States. With this award we salute their achievements and celebrate their legacy.

The inaugural Vardell Award will be presented to the Vardell Family to honor Dr. and Mrs. Vardell and subsequent awards will be presented annually to an individual, foundation and/or corporation for their commitment to and support of the foundation and its mission.

Recipients of the 2006 Vardell Award

The Vardell Family

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The Petronella Award

Appropriately named in tribute to a dance popular among Scottish country and contra dancers, the Petronella Award recognizes outstanding contributions on behalf of teachers and leaders in these communities who have provided support, guidance and expertise in promoting dance throughout the region.  Of special interest are individuals who have actively worked to introduce new dancers to these dance forms and who have exhibited a spirit of working together.  The recipient, chosen by the Board of Directors of the Flora Macdonald Legacy Foundation, will be announced in August of each year and will be presented with the award at the annual ball in October.

Recipients of the 2006 Petronella Award

Patricia Johnston

DeeDee Laurilliard

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Tommy and Jean Ammons

& Frances S. McNeill

to Receive Flora Macdonald Legacy Award

Jacksonville, Nov.21 – Rosalynde Gibson Cowdrey, Co-Chair of the Flora Macdonald Ball Committee, announced yesterday that the committee would present two Legacy Awards at its annual ball to be held in conjunction with the Flora Macdonald Highland Games in October of 2006.  One award will be presented to Tommy and Jean Ammons for their contribution in producing the Flora Macdonald Highland Games for close to thirty years, the other to Frances S. McNeill (Frances T.) for her dedication in preserving archives located on the Flora Macdonald campus.

Cowdrey, a graduate of Flora Macdonald College and a long time supporter of the Highland Games, said Saturday in an interview that she could not think of any individuals more deserving than Tommy, Jean and Frances “T” and that she was honored to be asked by the Flora Macdonald Legacy Foundation to make the announcement on behalf of the organization.

“Those who know the Ammonses realize that the Highland Games would simply not exist were it not for their hard work and dedication,” said Cowdrey “and I feel certain many of the archives, which are not only of sentimental but also of historical significance, would have been lost were it not for Frances T. In creating and examining the mission of the Flora Macdonald Legacy Award it became apparent that these individuals were the obvious choices to honor, especially for our inaugural presentation.”

The Flora Macdonald Legacy Awards will be presented at the First Annual Flora Macdonald Ball to be held on October 7, 2006.

From the Red Springs Citizen Newspaper  August 23, 2006

VARDELL FAMILY TO BE HONORED AT FLORA MACDONALD BALL

The Board of Directors of the Flora Macdonald Legacy Foundation announced yesterday that they will honor the Vardell Family at the first annual Flora Macdonald Ball, to be held on October 7th in Red Springs.  The inaugural Vardell Award will be presented to the Vardell Family in recognition of the contributions of Dr. Charles Graves Vardell and those of his wife Linda Lee Rumple Vardell.

See tab at left titled "in the news" for rest of story and photographs.

Also see tab at left titled "The College" for article from Our State Magazine.