Diplomas, Awards & Honors
Diplomas
The Registrar's Office is responsible for the distribution of diplomas to academic departments. Undergraduates who have completed their degree requirements prior to Commencement will receive their diploma at their department ceremony on Sunday. Undergraduate students with a double major must decide where to receive their diploma and inform the Registrar's Office so that the diploma can be sent to the correct department for presentation.
Undergraduates completing their degrees in August and degree candidates who do not attend the May Commencement will receive their diplomas in the mail. Graduate students in some programs will also have their diplomas mailed to them. Students should make sure that a current physical address/contact information is on file with the Registrar's Office.
Commencement Awards
Each year at Commencement, the College of William and Mary recognizes several of its most outstanding students, faculty, and staff with College awards and honors. Members of the campus community are encouraged to nominate worthy individuals in the spring of each year.
The James Frederic Carr Memorial Cup
The Carr Cup is awarded to a graduating senior on the basis of character, scholarhip, and leadership. The recipient should be a well-rounded student, having a good standing in all three of these respects, and carrying within the spirit of willingness to sacrifice and give oneself to a cause. The recipient is chosen by the Commencement Committee at the end of the Spring semester on the basis of letters of nomination from members of the College community. The 2009 recipient was Brian Terrill.
The Thatcher Prize for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Study
The Thatcher Prize is given to an outstanding graduate student completing an advanced degree in Arts and Sciences, Education, Marine Science, Business Administration, or Law, and is awarded on the basis of scholarship, character, leadership, and service. The recipient is chosen by the Commencement Committee at the end of the Spring semester on the basis of letters of nomination from members of the College community. The 2009 recipient was Cullen Drescher.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
The Sullivan Award, given in the form of a medallion, is in recognition of influence for good, taking into consideration such characteristics of heart, mind, and conduct as evince a spirit of love and helpfulness to other men and women. It is awarded each year to one man and one woman from the student body and to a third person who has a close relationship to the College. The recipients are chosen by the Commencement Committee at the end of the Spring semester on the basis of letters of nomination from members of the College community. The 2009 student recipients were Adeela Tajdar and Kevin Dua.
The Lord Botetourt Medal
The Lord Botetourt Medal is presented each year to the undergraduate student "who has most distinguished him- or herself in scholarship." Toward the end of the Spring semester, academic department chairs are notified of undergraduate students whose academic records merit their consideration for the Botetourt Medal. Those department chairs are asked to submit letters of recommendation on behalf of eligible students whom they wish to see considered for this singular honor. The 2009 recipient was Kelly Hallinger.
The Thomas Ashley Graves, Jr. Award
The Graves Award is presented annually to a member of the faculty in recognition of sustained excellence in teaching. The 2009 recipient was Thomas Heacox.
The Charles and Virginia Duke Award
The Duke Award is given annually to an outstanding employee of the College or to one contracted to provide auxiliary services to the College. The 2009 recipient was Bernard Bowman.
Other Awards & Honors
Other awards recognize students for their character, service, leadership, and academic excellence. Although there are too many recipients to name individually during the Commencement ceremony, students who receive the following honors will be designated as such on the awards sheet that is distributed with the Commencement program in May.
The Ewell Award
In 1987, the Student Association (now the Student Assembly) established an award to honor well-rounded graduating students -- both graduate and undergraduate -- who best exemplify a liberal arts education through their activities and academic studies. This award was named in honor of Benjamin Stoddert Ewell, the President of the College of William and Mary, who by ringing the Wren Building bell kept the College alive when its doors closed during the Civil War. Ewell recognized that students are the heart of the College's existence and continued the spirit until the students could bring life back to campus.
Up to 40 recipients are selected for the Ewell Award each year. Honorees receive a certificate at the Spring Awards Reception and are listed on the awards sheet at Commencement. Candidates may be full-time or part-time students and must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA). To be eligible for the 2010 Ewell Award, undergraduates must complete (or have completed) their degree requirements in January 2010, May 2010, or August 2010. Masters and doctoral students must complete (or have completed) their degrees in August 2009, January 2010, or May 2010.
Latin Honors
Latin Honors are awarded to undergraduates on the basis of their overall grade point average (GPA) as follows:
3.50 - 3.64 -- cum laude
3.65 - 3.79 -- magna cum laude
3.80 or higher -- summa cum laude
Departmental Honors
Departmental Honors are granted by individual departments and programs to recognize student achievement in independent study and research projects. Students who conduct departmental honors projects may receive their degree with "Honors," "High Honors," "Highest Honors," or "Honor in Research," depending on the department and the quality of the work.
Still have questions? Visit the Diplomas, Awards & Honors FAQ page.
