Lander’s top academic honor for spring 2011 graduates went to Amber Nicole Scates, of Greenwood, who received the Thayer Award. The award is presented on behalf of the family of Dr. Henry K. Thayer to the graduating senior achieving the highest scholastic average, provided that the student has earned at least 60 credit hours in residence at Lander and that the student’s grade point average is at least 3.75.