On 24 October 2012 the Florida State University presented its VIRES Torch Award, one of the university's highest honors, to Dr. Marilyn J. Young, President and CEO at RussTech Language Services, Inc. The VIRES award – which symbolizes moral, physical and intellectual strength – is bestowed upon individuals who have made significant long-term contributions to the educational mission of the university.

Dr. Young, the Wayne C. Minnick Professor of Communication emerita, is an internationally renowned scholar and teacher who also excelled in serving the Florida State community in many capacities, including as a department chair and President of the FSU Faculty Senate. She shares this year’s award with Dr. Fred Leysieffer, emeritus Professor of Statistics, who also filled many administrative positions – most recently as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.

A co-founder of RussTech Language Services in 1994, Dr. Young has guided the growth and development of the company, which provides technical translation and interpreting services in over 60 languages to business and government clients. When accepting the VIRES Torch Award at a meeting of the Florida State University general faculty, Dr. Young stated, “I am immensely proud and humbled by this honor.”