daniel merrill IILake Highlands resident Daniel Merrill, a junior at Davidson College, received the James Baker Woods III Award Tuesday on campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. The honor is given to a rising senior military science cadet each year who has displayed outstanding qualities of leadership, moral character, academic achievement and aptitude for military service.

The award was established by Dr. James B. Woods, Jr., Class of 1918, and his wife, in memory of their son, a member of the Class of 1962, who gave his life in defense of his country. Daniel, a biology major, was awarded a 2-year Army ROTC scholarship shortly after completing the Leadership Training Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

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At the presentation, Daniel was praised for “demonstrating superior leadership qualities in the planning and execution of a Davidson College Red Cross blood drive, as the Cadet First Sergeant during leadership labs, and most recently being selected as the top Advanced Cadet at the annual Joint Field Training Exercise. He has exhibited great moral character both in and out of uniform in his election to the prestigious Davidson College Honor Council. He is also a member of the Dean’s List.”

While here, Daniel served as president of the Class of 2010 at Jesuit. He is the son of Randy and Amy Merrill.

Congratulations, Daniel.