Dr. Morton Schapiro, president of Northwestern University, received the George F. Hixson award from the Kiwanis Club of Evanston in ceremonies held on Oct. 5. The Hixson award is the highest award given by a local club for outstanding service by a member or by an individual in the community. It is named for George Hixson, the first president of worldwide service organization Kiwanis International.

Dr. Schapiro received the Hixson medallion for his efforts together with earlier Hixson winner Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl for generating a new spirit of cooperation and friendship between the residents of Evanston and the Northwestern University community. He expressed his pride in being an Evanstonian and went on to discuss a number of topics regarding his specialty on the economics of higher education. He also made note of the Northwestern University athletics program, ranked number one in the country in its participants’ academic progress toward a degree.