Two Millsaps Students Earn National Leadership Honors from Omicron Delta Kappa
Jackson, Miss. — Two students from Millsaps College have been recognized as National Leaders of the Year by Omicron Delta Kappa, one of the nation’s oldest leadership honor societies. Elyse Warren and Olivia Danos each received top awards, accounting for one-third of the six students nationwide honored this year, according to the college.
Warren, a senior from Memphis, Tennessee, was named the Gen. Russell E. Dougherty National Leader of the Year, the society’s highest undergraduate leadership honor. Danos, a senior from Houston, Texas, was named National Leader of the Year in Athletics. Both students serve as officers of the Millsaps ODK chapter, with Warren as president and Danos as secretary.
It is uncommon for two students from the same institution to earn the national honors in the same year, said Megan James, vice president of student life and dean of students at Millsaps and an ODK advisor. James noted the awards recognize leadership that influences campus culture and broader communities.
The recognition coincides with Millsaps’ centennial celebration of its Pi Circle, which was founded in 1926 and marks 100 years of leadership and service at the college.
The Dougherty award honors the top undergraduate leader within ODK, those who hold multiple leadership roles and enact meaningful change. Danos said her campus involvement and leadership in volleyball and other activities taught her the importance of leading with integrity and resilience. Warren expressed gratitude for her recognition, noting her leadership in athletics, academics, and service has transformed her and others.
Both awards include financial prizes and highlight Millsaps’ focus on developing students’ leadership, character, and service skills through faculty mentorship and experiential opportunities. The college promotes a values-centered education that prepares students for success beyond graduation.
For updates on Millsaps athletics, follow the Majors on X and Instagram, or visit gomajors.com. Founded in 1890 in Jackson, Mississippi, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts institution known for academic excellence, free inquiry, and fostering social and cultural progress in the region. It has received recognition from colleges such as Princeton Review, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report.
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