Marnay Avant of Saint Louis Named Student Speaker for Colby's 197th Commencement

2018 May 9

Marnay Avant of Saint Louis, a senior at Colby College, was announced as the student speaker for Colby's 197th Commencement at a student awards ceremony May 8. Avant, chosen by the Class of 2018, will share the stage at commencement May 27 with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). A Ralph J. Bunche scholar and sociology and African-American studies double major, Avant has been a campus leader with a global focus, spending a semester abroad in Ghana and traveling widely with the Bunche program. She is a Phi Beta Kappa inductee and was also honored with the MLK Colby Drum Major for Justice Award and academic awards in both her majors.

Numerous other students from across the College were also recognized for their academic, service, and leadership achievements at the 10th annual student awards ceremony in Lorimer Chapel. More than 30 academic departments and programs-including the Oak Institute, the Colby College Museum of Art, and the Farnham Writers' Center-acknowledged student scholarship, service, and activism with awards and prizes.