David Boraks (Brenda Barger photo)

Here’s a special Sunday edition of Brenda Barger’s Around Davidson column, celebrating a bit of news close to home.

The month of May has been one of many celebrations for David Boraks. Just a few days ago he blew out quite a few candles on his birthday cake (50) and on Sunday stood tall at Davidson College’s commencement at the newest recipient of the 2009 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. This award is given annually at graduation to a deserving member of the senior class and a deserving member of the Davidson community who possesses “fine spiritual qualities practically applied to daily living, usually going to persons who have given unselfish service without due recognition.” (See more about 2009 commencement below.)

David certainly fits the bill as the recipient of a community service award. Since the early days of 2007 when he determined that our town needed a better means of communication, he has been the tireless journalist at the helm of DavidsonNews.net. Many turn to the website for news of the latest traffic jam or the Wildcats basketball score,  Town Board meetings or help reuniting residents with lost pets.

David Boraks totes his Algernon Sydney Sullivan award in the basket of his bicycle May 17. (Christine Negroni photo)

As Davidson College Dean Tom Shandley so aptly stated at Sunday’s Davidson graduation ceremony:  David “continues to uphold the highest standards of journalism in order to serve the community. He combines the time-honored tradition of public service through the media while utilizing the latest technologies to communicate.”

PREVIOUS WINNERS

The Sullivan Award is a sort of community pat-on-the-back for unheralded service. David joins a long and distinguished list of recipients beginning in 1928 including Carl Pritchett, Tom Sadler, Gene McEver, Dr. James Woods, Betty Cumming and Susan Abbott to name but a few.

As one who has written for a print newspaper for years following in the Elizabeth Woods tradition of “Around Davidson,” words cannot express how satisfying it is to now write for DavidsonNews.net and to work with a trained, even handed, respected journalist like David Boraks.

For unselfish, innovative and professional commitment in service to the greater community, we congratulate you, David. How fortunate our town is to have you, your wife Shelley Rigger, and daughters, Emma and Tilly, living in our midst!