FREDONIA — Nicholas W. Hlifka, State University at Fredonia graduating senior, will receive the 2018 Lanford Presidential Prize from the Oscar and Esther Lanford Endowment of the Fredonia College Foundation.

The award will be presented at the morning Commencement ceremony on May 19. Created and endowed by the late President Emeritus Oscar E. Lanford and Mrs. Lanford, the prize recognizes a member of the graduating class who has exhibited balanced achievement and exemplifies Fredonia’s ideals.

Hlifka, from Ripley, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, summa cum laude, with a minor in religious studies, and carries a 4.0 GPA. The Department of Philosophy faculty who nominated him for the prize noted, “…he truly exemplifies The Fredonia Way with his infectious collegiality that elevates all within the classroom, and reminds us that striving for excellence and cherishing robust community are virtues of the spirit that transcend the events and projects that give rise to them.” They added, “Nick is a dominant presence in a classroom. He writes and speaks in a clear, organized, and forceful manner and is an active participant in classroom discussions. In our classes he presented and defended arguments on a number of topics. His presentations were tightly organized, unique, and well worth listening to.”

Hlifka, who is visually impaired, regularly volunteers in the university’s Disability Support Services office, and helps to address campus website and physical accessibility issues, especially related to visual impairment.

He is also active on campus with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; leading meetings, serving on the executive board, and helping to lead the outreach community effort “Thirsty?”