The award is named after the three torches on the seal of Florida State University. Each torch represents one Latin word of the school's motto: Vires, embodying moral, physical and intellectual strength; Artes, expressing an appreciation of aesthetics and the beauty of intellectual pursuits; and Mores, exhibiting respect for customs, character and tradition. [1]
The actual name of the award is Faculty Senate Torch Awards, established in 1996 as a means for the faculty to honor the friends of FSU who have made sustained and significant contributions to the university's ability to fulfill its academic mission. [2] Initially, the Faculty Senate presented the awards at the Annual Faculty Awards Ceremony held at the end of the school year. A few years later, the event was moved to the Fall as part of the Fall Faculty Meeting. In 2012, the university administration suggested raising the prestige of the award by funding a special awards dinner including the Provost. [3]
Committee membership consists of no more than 10, but at least 7 members, including Ex officio members. The President of the Faculty Senate appoints committee members. Appointees must be a combination of retired and active faculty. One or more members must be on the Faculty Senate Steering Committee (FSSC). The President of the FSU Foundation or their representative is Ex officio but has voting rights. Committee members serve a term of three years except for the FSSC member. Committee members may make recommendations to fill vacancies and recommend a chairperson for the Torch Awards Committee to the FSSC. [4]
The committee accepts nominations and recommends recipients for the awards to the FSSC, which has final approval. The letter of nomination should document the nominee's contributions and accomplishments that support the university's ability to effectuate its academic mission. There need not be recipients for all categories of the award, but there may be multiple recipients for any or all categories in a given year. Current university employees are not eligible for a Torch Award. [4]
| Year [5] | Vires awards | Artes awards | Mores awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 [6] | Joseph (Joe) Torgesen | Andre Thomas | Allen Durham Bill Durham |
| 2023 [7] | Benjamin Crump Charles (Charlie) Nam | Les & Ruth Akers Robert (Bob) Howard | none |
| 2022 [8] | Vasken Hagopian Clifford Madsen Patricia Yancey Martin | none | Janet Stoner Alicia Crew |
| 2021 | Dr. Gregory J. Beaumont | Virginia Bass Wetherell | Warrick D. Dunn |
| 2020 | Fred H. Flowers Doby Lee Flowers | Dorothy Chao Jenkins | Paula Peters Smith William Godfrey Smith II |
| 2019 | Sean Pittman | Howard Tibbals Charles & Persis Rockwood | Valliere Richard Auzenne |
| 2018 | Melvin Stith, Jr. Charlie Ward, Jr. | Don Gibson Barry Jenkins | Mark & Nan Hillis |
| 2017 | Kirby Kemper Jan Moran | none | Guy Spearman Ash Williams |
| 2016 | Paula Fortunas | Davis Gaines | David Stanford Warmath |
| 2015 | Anne Rowe | none | Charles Ehrhardt Harold Knowles |
| 2014 | Mark Ellis Jim Jones | Lucy Ho | Debra Brock |
| 2013 | Marie E. Cowart | Richard R. Portman | Fred L. Standley Nancy A. Turner |
| 2012 | Fred Leysieffer Marilyn Young | Lynda Keever | Stella Cottrell |
| 2011 | John E. Thrasher | John M. McKay | Maxwell Carraway, Jr. Patrick Hogan |
| 2010 | James C. Smith | none | Sherrill Williams Ragans |
| 2009 | Joseph L. Camps | Florence H. Ashby | James C. Smith |
| 2008 | Clifford R. Hinkle | JoAnn Blackwell | Betty Lou Joanos |
| 2007 | Frankie Strickland | Don Ungurait | Leo Sandon, Jr |
| 2006 | Wayne Minnick | Carlisle Floyd Gregory Choppin | James Melton Bernard and Greta Sliger |
| 2005 | Charlotte Maguire Russell Kropp | Sarah Jane Alexander | Beverly Spencer Seminole Tribe of Florida |
| 2004 | Ken Van Assenderp | Mart Hill | Steve Edwards Joseph Hiett |
| 2003 | Carl Blackwell | none | Milton Carothers |
| 2002 | Ray Solomon | Nancy Smith Fichter | Betty L. Harrison Sarah L. Marxsen Mary Lou Norwood Shirley R. Tellander |
| 2001 | John E. Champion Mary L. Champion | Richard G. Fallon | Daisy Parker Flory |
| 2000 | Robert M. Johnson C. David Smith | Jeffrey Shaara | Don Veller |
| 1999 | Lynette Thompson | Wiley and Lucilla Housewright | DuBose Ausley |
| 1998 | Gus A. Stavros | none | Jessie Ball duPont Fund Mart Hill |
| 1997 | Godfrey Smith George Langford | William Rogers | Kitty Hoffman |
