At Homecoming on November 2, 2002, Bill George proposed and announced a service project to purchase a ceremonial mace for Lee University.  Since Lee College became Lee University back in 1994, the school had not purchased a mace to use in commencement ceremonies.  A mace is a decorative item typically held by the person leading the procession.  It is a symbol of leadership, prestige, and influence. 

Over the next four months, Upsilon raised around $7,000 for the purchase of this mace through the "50 Friends of Upsilon" campaign.  The mace was presented to Lee University prior to commencement ceremonies in May of 2003.

(--excerpts from a letter by current UXAA Secretary Bill George)

Upsilon Xi,

Today I attended the commencement ceremonies at Lee University and proudly watched as the Upsilon Xi ceremonial mace, borne by the faculty marshal, Dr. Mark Wickam, a Upsilon alumnus, led the procession of faculty and graduates.

The mace is simple, but beautiful. A 54-inch wood staff, ringed with gold bands, the top one-third carved with a repeated design of tiny raised squares, is crowned by a golden orb (14 karat gold) topped by a copy of the seal of the university. The golden orb is divided into two equal halves and the two halves are separated by a golden band, on which is inscribed the date of the school's founding. From the top, a set of intertwined cords hangs down about one-third the length of the staff. One set of cords is maroon and white, the colors of Lee University, and the other set is black and gray. The mace flashed in the sunlight and caught the attention of the crowd. The printed program explained the significance of the mace and gave credit to Upsilon for the gift.
 

Upsilon alumnus, Dr. Mark Wickam leads with the Mace

"50 Friends of Upsilon" - $100 donation
Johnny T. Abernathy L. Ty Abernathy David Blair Janet Blair Dan Boling Eddie Brown Matt Brumlow Rodney Bryant Mike Chapman Trace Colson Chris Conine Tony Copley Eric Deaton Ken Donnelly Edgar Emeric Randy Eubanks Rick Folino Ted Gee Bill George David Gibson Joe Giove Jerome Hammond Jason Harris	Bill Henning Robert Herron Nick Humble Bill Jabber Jake Jeffords Keith Jeffords Bob Johnson Brian Johnson Rodney Knox Duane Lambert Tim Lee Doug Leroy Sam Luke Doug Morris John Mroczko Keith Mumford Sean O'Neal Ralph Osborne Duran Palmertree Benny Perez Ryan Pettit Chuck Ramsey	Paul Rankin Darrell Rice Mitch Richardson ac Roland David Scisciani Paul Searcy Andy Simmons Christy Simmons Wayne Slocumb Bedford Smith Martin Smith Darrell Spell Mark Thomas Wayne Tipton Grady Townsend Charles Turner John Vining Roby Walker Kent Windham Kyle Windham Bill Winters Nic Yeomans
Other gifts - Don Bennett, Keith Pennington, Scott Booth, Chat Jacobs, Derek Knoke