Grant Perkins and Athena Triantopoulos were voted Mr. ACU and Miss ACU before the Senior Candlelight Send-off on Sunday. The Student Government Association honors one man and one woman each year with this award, which recognizes seniors who represent ACU’s mission during their time as students.

“The point of it is to recognize exceptional seniors,” said SGA President Tamil Adele, junior criminal justice major from Midland. “People who have exemplified what it means to be an ACU student, through their character, their involvement and their service during their time at ACU, so this is our way to honor them.”

Perkins, senior Bible and ministry major from Edmond, Oklahoma, said he is not exaggerating when he says his time here changed his life. Perkins has been a part of Galaxy and has served as its chaplain, and this year as its president. He emphasized how important the relationships he has built here are, adding that the professors, especially, have impacted him.

After graduation, Perkins will be interning at a church in Temple and then return to work on his Master of Divinity.

“I just can’t think of a better way to spend four years than the four years I was blessed enough to spend here,” Perkins said.

Triantopoulos, senior advertising and public relations major from Las Vegas, said ACU has helped her grow in every aspect of her life. She served as the SGA vice president and as the new member orientation director for Tri Kappa Gamma. Triantopoulos has also been involved in her department, from working at Morris+Mitchell to ACUTV and KACU.

“It’s bittersweet, so I feel nervous and anxious and sad,” Triantopoulos said, “but I’m also very excited and eager to get into the next phase of life.”