Lars Lyon Service Award

About the Program

Lars Lyon, a mechanical engineering student who came to Duke in 1985. While at Duke he volunteered with organizations such as Circle K International and Ronald McDonald House as well as served as vice president of Play Units for the Severely Handicapped (PUSH). Lyon passed away at the age of 21 years old after a battle with cancer.

The Community Service Center gives the Lars Lyon Award every April to one Duke employee and one rising sophomore, junior or senior student.

To be considered, undergraduates must have exhibited a strong dedication to service while at Duke and must be nominated by a member of the faculty or staff, a fellow student, or a representative of a Durham non-profit or public school. Employees must be nominated by a representative of a local non-profit or school with which they volunteer.

The student recipient of the Lars Lyon Volunteer Service Award receives a partial scholarship toward his or her tuition the following academic year.

The nominating organization of the Duke Employee Community Service Award recipient receives a support gift from the university.

Recipient will receive a partial scholarship of $13,000 and will be announced at the IN THE SPOTLIGHT: celebrating student leadership and service program.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Lars Lyon Volunteer Service Award, we asked past recipients to share their thoughts.