The Student Government Association candidates were not the only ones on the ballot this week.
When spring elections come around the candidates for the Final Lecture are also voted on by students.
Collier Tynes is Chief of Staff of the Student Government Association and explained the process as, "A selection committee will go through the nominations, rank them and the top professors will go on the election ballot Feb. 19. Students are able to then vote for the professor they wish to give the Final Lecture."
Dr. Stuart Loch, associate professor in theoretical atomic physics, was elected as this year's winner Tuesday night, Feb. 19.
"I am excited, pleased and honored," Loch said. "It is so special that it is student voted and that's what means the most to me.
Dr. Joseph Kicklighter, professor of history for 38 years and the history department undergraduate program officer, was the first faculty member to receive the honor.
Kicklighter said SGA came to him in 2008 and told him they were trying something new and that he was being nominated to give the Final Lecture.
"It was a real gratifying experience," Kicklighter said. "I said in my lecture I could not imagine any honor that I could be prouder of since it was voted on by students themselves."
Kicklighter said most of his remarks were made toward the seniors who attended the lecture.
"I tried to communicate to them things that I learned throughout my career," Kicklighter said. "That is what I wanted to pass on to the people at the lecture so they could take that and hopefully learn from it."
Dr. Lawrence Wit gave the Final Lecture in 2009. Wit retired in September after 36 years at Auburn as a professor and dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.
"Any time a faculty member is honored by the students I think it is the highest level of compliment," Wit said. "It was a great opportunity and a terrific honor."
Wit, like Kicklighter, said he also chose to do something reflective that was geared toward the graduates.
"I told them the five or six things I wish I had been told the day I graduated," Wit said. "I remember being anxious the day I graduated college, so I wanted to be encouraging to the ones about to step away from Auburn."
Wit said it was special to have students who he had taught present at the lecture.
"I have been blessed to have won other teaching awards, but that's right there at the top," Wit said. "It is really one of the most special things I have won."
Matthew Kearley, biology professor, was awarded the Final Lecture in 2011.
"I knew I had been nominated, then they had the vote during SGA elections and no one told me I won for two days," Kearley said. "I think it was one of my students who first told me congratulations."
Kearley said he attended the Final Lecture when Wit gave it.
"He did a fantastic job and it was cool to hear him then be able to do the lecture too," Kearley said. "It is the biggest single honor I have had since I've been here,"
This years' Final Lecture is scheduled to be on Tuesday, April 9 on Cater Lawn.
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