Starlington Prize

1. Have internalized the true obligation of membership in Mortar Board; Understand the Purpose of Mortar Board and use it to help ensure that the chapter plans for and carries out programs that continue to contribute to the quality of student life on campus; 
2. Dedicate themselves to making their chapter the best honor society on campus;  
3. Value the contributions toward the chapter’s excellence by other chapter members, advisors and alumni; and 
4. Evidence support for other members by helping them with chapter projects, organizing them in chapter efforts, and recognizing them through the means at their disposal. 

Starlington nominees should have contributed in big ways to the life of the chapter and may or may not have been officers. 

Every year, there are eight stages in the life of a Mortar Board chapter: 

1. The chapter is represented at national conference and applies conference learning to chapter operations; 
2. The chapter plans and conducts chapter meetings and events that lead to programmatic success, financial sustainability and campus visibility, and a capstone experience for all members; 
3. The chapter embraces a selection process that includes the entire campus community in the opportunity to nominate all those students who are worthy of consideration;  
4. The chapter is represented at the virtual Special National Conference; 
5. The chapter welcomes new members, including:  
6. Orienting them to the local chapter and national Society, 
7. Conducting a public and meaningful initiation, and  
8. Conducting an effective officer election; 
9. The chapter trains new officers and facilitates the transition between classes, including preparing the next class for conference; 
10. The chapter reports about the year nationally and locally; and 
11. The chapter sends outgoing members off with regard for their new status as Mortar Board alumni. 

While it would be nearly impossible for a collegiate member to have an effect on all eight stages, the Starlington Prize recipient will have a comprehension of all eight and will have been a visibly-inspiring and contributing member, alongside the chapter officers and advisors, as well as campus officials, to ensure that all eight stages are actualized by the chapter.  

The Starlington Prize is named after two Mortar Board Distinguished Lifetime Members: Dr. Martha (Marty) Lewis Starling and CAPT Sally Watlington. Together, Marty Starling and CAPT Sally Watlington led the Mortar Board Centennial Campaign, raising more than $1.4 million in endowed funds to support the organization’s mission. Their partnership and leadership also inspired the creation of the Marty Starling and Sally Watlington Centennial Endowment, known as the Starlington Endowment, which provides a cash prize recognizing outstanding collegiate leaders. Together, they left a lasting legacy of leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment to scholarship, leadership, and service. 

About Dr. Martha Lewis Starling (Kansas State University, 1962) 

Raised on a farm near Lamed, Kansas, Marty Starling followed in the footsteps of her mother, Frances Aicher Lewis, by enrolling at Kansas State University. Initiated into Mortar Board in 1962, she quickly became an active leader on campus, holding leadership roles in several organizations including Alpha Chi Omega, Omicron Nu, Phi Upsilon Omicron, Chimes, and the university’s Centennial Celebration. After graduating, she earned her PhD from Penn State and went on to serve the university in a variety of roles, including Director of Development. 

Marty’s lifelong commitment to service extended far beyond campus. She was deeply involved in community organizations such as the United Way of Pennsylvania, the Downtown State College Partnership, and the P.E.O. Sisterhood, among many others. Her dedication to Mortar Board was especially remarkable. She served on the State College Mortar Board Alumni Club for 43 years, including 23 years on the Scholarship Committee, and remained closely connected to both the Archousai chapter at Penn State and the XIX chapter at Kansas State. 

Her national leadership and vision helped shape the future of Mortar Board. Marty served on the Mortar Board National Foundation Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2013 before stepping down to serve as National President of Mortar Board, Inc. Following her presidency, she returned to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and served until 2021. A tireless advocate and fundraiser, she established the Frances Aicher Lewis Endowment Fund in 2010 to support the training of Mortar Board advisors. During her leadership, the Foundation expanded its focus from primarily awarding fellowships to building endowments that sustain Mortar Board’s programs and initiatives. 

About CAPT Sally Watlington  (Purdue University, 1959) 

Sally Watlington was deeply involved in student life at Purdue University, where she participated in numerous campus organizations including Alpha Chi Omega, the Purdue student newspaper The Exponent, Kappa Delta Pi, Theta Sigma Phi, Sportswomen, and Gold Peppers. During her time at Purdue, she was mentored by influential leaders including Dean of Women Helen Schleman, Associate Dean of Women Bev Stone, and Barbara Cook. Their encouragement and example inspired Sally to pursue a life of leadership and service, including commissioning as an officer in the United States Navy. 

During her distinguished naval career, Sally held numerous appointments and earned several high honors for her service, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and two Legion of Merit Medals. Her commitment to service extended beyond the military into her community, where she has supported organizations such as the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, the Greater Lafayette United Way, the YWCA of Greater Lafayette, and the Franciscan Alliance Western Indiana Hospital. 

Sally has also given decades of dedicated service to Mortar Board. She served as an advisor to the Barbara Cook Chapter at Purdue and as treasurer of the Greater Lafayette Mortar Board Alumni Chapter. At the national level, she served more than three terms on the Mortar Board National Foundation Board of Trustees, including as secretary-treasurer, and continues to contribute her expertise as a member of the Investment Advisory Council. She also established the Sally Watlington Fund and the Purdue Five Deans Fund, honoring the mentors who shaped her early leadership and commitment to service. 

Grace Tang (Carnegie Mellon University)
Maddox Spinelli (The University of Washington)

Nick Rodriguez (Wichita State University)
Bella Rohrig (Illinois State University)

Andrew Gray (The University of Tulsa)
Tamika Lovelace (San Diego State University)

Hannah Giannini (University of South Alabama)
Vedant Kulkarni (Kansas State University)

Hanna Bobinger (University of South Alabama)
Rajvarun Grewal (University of California, Los Angeles)

Alex Ballard (Chapman University)
Maia Forman (University of Cincinnati)
Brendan J. Wall (Illinois State University)

Ashlyn Fisher (Kansas State University)
Jessi Martin (University of Akron)