Robert Elliot Clay
Recipient of the 2024 William Stevens Powell Award
The William Stevens Powell Award was established in 2002 by the North Caroliniana Society in honor of the Society’s first president, long-time vice- president, and distinguished historian.
The award recognizes a student who, during the student’s career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has done the most to develop an interest in, and understanding of, the history and traditions of the nation’s oldest state university. Absent a deserving recipient as so adjudged, the award may be presented to the UNC-CH student who has done the most to develop interest in, and understanding of, the history of the state of North Carolina.
~ April 2024
On April 23, 2024 the Society’s William Stevens Powell Award was presented to Robert Elliot Clay during the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Chancellor Awards Ceremony.
And on April 24, 2024, Rob Clay was celebrated during the North Caroliniana’s Society Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet held in Chapel Hill, NC at The Carolina Inn.
More information about the Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet can be found in Number 65 of the North Caroliniana Society Imprints, titled A Future for Our Histories by Kevin Cherry.
Videos of April 24th’s afternoon and evening festivities are available on the Society’s website.
About the Recipient
This year the William Stevens Powell Award was awarded to Robert Elliot Clay, a senior from Durham, North Carolina studying philosophy. Following graduation, he will be attending law school. Philosophy major Robert Clay is committed to expanding healthcare access as a 2023-2024 Zietlow Civic Engagement Fellow at Carolina Public Humanities. Working with Professor Jonathan Oberlander, Rob aims to demystify signing up for Medicaid by low-income and historically marginalized Orange County citizens. As a Public Service Program Coordinator with medical experience, he began developing his community engagement philosophy at the Carolina Center for Public Service in 2022.