More than 150 alumni, friends, faculty and staff attended the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Alumni Banquet last Friday evening in the Crossroads Cafeteria of the William Henry Belk College Center.

"This is always a great celebration of our alumni," said Mackay Asbury (class of 1977), the 2008-2009 Alumni Council president. "It is a great time to see familiar faces."

The banquet is the first official event of the alumni weekend festivities on the campus and is used as an opportunity to honor special groups and individuals in attendance on behalf of the alumni association.

The honored class was the Flora Macdonald Class of 1959, in attendance to celebrate its 50th class reunion.

A special scrapbook and certificate of appreciation were presented to Dick Prust, distinguished professor of philosophy, who is retiring at the end of the year.

"Dick Prust arrived at King's Mountain when we were in a state of full rebellion," said Dan Beerman (1969). "He was asked to live in the dorm and work with the unruly group of men dealing with issues of race and the Vietnam War. Dick was the bridge from the past to the evolving future as we moved from one set of rules and reality to another set of rules and reality. He would use his calm intellect to guide us."

The Alumni Association of St. Andrews Presbyterian College presented the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award to the Rev. Mac Legerton.

"This is the most personal award I have ever received," Legerton said. "When we come back here, we come home to this place. The memories of this place give us energy today. All acts of giving to others brings meaning and purpose to our lives."

Legerton graduated from St. Andrews in 1973 and moved to Robeson County in 1975 to accept an internship to recommend campus and community ministry opportunities. Quickly recognizing a need in the community, he and Donna Chavis, now his wife, founded the Center for Community Action based in Lumberton.

The Center is a multicultural, community-based nonprofit organization that specializes in grassroots empowerment and multi-sector collaboration as the foundations for social change.

"It is because of St. Andrews that I am where I am today," Legerton said. "In receiving this award, I give honor back to St. Andrews for giving so much to me. I consider my life as a vessel that is sailing in the ocean and wind of all the good that has been given to me.

"I am compelled to magnify this love and goodness in service with others. I will take this recognition into my heart and use the spirit in which it is given as a driving force to serve and support the earnest struggles and contributions of others, particularly those that go unrecognized."

"Mac was selected for the highest award offered by the Alumni Council for the work he's done to fight poverty in the nation," said Alumni Director Susan Wentz. "We are honored to be able to present this award to such a deserving individual."

The alumni weekend activities also included an alumni party and senior art show Friday evening. Additional events for the weekend include the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction, an opening program for the College Archives, the Dedication of the McCain Plaque of the Flora Macdonald Neuk, an alumni soccer game, a conversation with college President Paul Baldasare, a mini-concert by the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Pipe Band and a picnic with faculty and students.

St. Andrews boasts an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum, a highly acclaimed college press, an award-winning pipe band, national champion equestrian teams, and first-rate scholarship. In addition to classes on the main campus, adult learners also choose the Center for Adult and Professional Studies opportunities through St. Andrews at Sandhills and St. Andrews ONLINE.

On Aug. 29, 1958, the merger between Presbyterian Junior College and Flora Macdonald College became official with the formation St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg.

Further information may be obtained by visiting the College's Web site at www.sapc.edu, calling (800) 763-0198 toll-free or sending an e-mail to info@sapc.edu.