Lauren Cox, daughter of Walter and Adele Cox of Sabattus, was awarded a degree in social and behavioral sciences from the University of Southern Maine at commencement exercises on May 12 at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.

Cox is a member of the Golden Key International Society. Golden Key provides academic recognition to college juniors and seniors in the top 15 percent of their class. She is a 2002 graduate of Eastgate Christian Academy and is on a six-week coast-to-coast expedition of the United States before she begins her career.