O.C. Lam III Award for Excellence in the Biological Sciences
The O.C. Lam III Award for Excellence in the Biological Sciences is presented at the Clayton State University Honors convocation each Spring Semester to the most outstanding biology student as designated by the biology faculty. The O.C. Lam Award winner receives a cash award, certificate and his/her name permanently engraved on a perpetual plaque displayed in the Arts and Sciences Office.
Students must meet the following criteria in order to be nominated for this award:
- The student should have an overall minimum grade point average of 3.2.
- The student should have completed the Organic Chemistry sequence.
- The student should have completed at least 3 upper division Biology courses at Clayton State University with a B or higher and should have either completed or are enrolled in 2 additional upper division Biology courses at Clayton State University with a B or higher midterm or final grade.
- The student must be nominated by a Biology faculty member.
Nominees are evaluated on the following criteria:
- GPA
- Superior achievement at upper division Biology courses at Clayton State University.
- Superior Research and scholarship.
- Participation in departmental and extracurricular activities.
Past winners of the Award
- Richard E. May May 14, 1997
- Vincent T. Zarzaca May 18, 1998
- Angela Michelle Baker April 27, 1999
- Steven W. Powell March 29, 2000
- Brian J. Kicklighter April 5, 2001
- Gina L. Smith March 28, 2002
- Janet R. Martinez April 3, 2003
- Pamela K. Coltrain April 8, 2004
- Branko Skovrlj April 7, 2005
- Leigh Beasley April, 2006
- Nikki Sawyer
April, 2007
- Jewels Morgan
May 3, 2008
- Chase Bishop April, 2009
- Matthew Shelnutt April 8, 2010
- Who's Next?

Dr. O.C. Lam, professor emeritus in Biology, retired from Clayton State University in January 1997.