Commencement 2007 Awards
Students honored with Sullivan Award
Graduating seniors Richael Faithful and Christopher Lemon were presented the 2007 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award at the College of William and Mary’s commencement ceremony May 20.
The Sullivan Award is presented by the New York Southern Society in memory of the life of Algernon Sydney Sullivan. Recipients are chosen based solely on the possession of characteristics of “heart, mind, and helpfulness to others.”
Faithful, a native of Centreville, Va., designed her own major at the College, called “Studies in American Inequality, Social Theory and Political Economy.” Her faculty advisor, Dee Royster said that she has made efforts to build community and make individuals and institutions responsive to the suffering around them.
“As I have said more than once, I hope to be Richael Faithful when I
grow up,” said College President Gene R. Nichol a
t the commencement.
“Richael, our debt to you is our deepened respect for one another.
There is no greater gift a member of our community can make.”
Lemon, a native of Frederick, Md., served as the student leader on the William and Mary Medical Mission Corps’ trip to the Dominican Republic in January. Lemon graduated from William and Mary with a 3.8 grade point average in his self-designed major of community health. He plans on going on to medical school.
“His devotion is so great, his integrity so strong, that people listen to and trust him immediately,” said Nichol.
Director of historic campus honored with Sullivan Award
Louise Kale, executive director of William and Mary’s historic campus, was presented an Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award at William and Mary’s commencement ceremony May 20.
The Sullivan Award is presented by the New York Southern Society in memory of the life of Algernon Sydney Sullivan. Recipients are chosen based solely on the possession of characteristics of “heart, mind, and helpfulness to others.” Two Sullivan Awards are presented to graduating seniors each year, and one to a person with a close working relationship to the College.
“No one could be better equipped to steward our College’s treasures,” said College President Gene R. Nichol at the commencement. “Not only has she perfected her knowledge of the College’s public history, but she delights in revealing its richer character through mesmerizing stories of more private legends and lore.”
Kale, daughter of former Dean Wilfred Lambert, served as registrar at the Muscarelle Museum for more than a decade before taking her post as executive director of the historic campus, where she has served for ten years.
Philosophy professor honored with Graves Award
Professor Alan E. Fuchs of the Department of Philosophy was named the recipient of the 2007 Thomas Ashley Graves Jr. Award during William and Mary’s commencement ceremony May 20.
The Graves Award is given annually in recognition of sustained excellence in teaching to honor Graves, who retired in 1985 after nearly 14 years as president of the College of William and Mary.
“Alan’s philosophy classes have won raves from students and colleagues alike for almost four decades, and now, as he acquires the title of professor emeritus, his daily presence, if not his lasting influence, will be greatly missed in James Blair Hall,” said College President Gene R. Nichol at the commencement.
Fuchs, a specialist in ethics, served on nearly every significant College committee and was a leader on the Faculty Assembly. He has made regular contributions to scholarly journals and conferences, and he has been a special lecturer at numerous other universities. His teaching was recognized in 1976 when he received a Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award at the College.
“This was no accident. Alan is an extraordinary teacher, and his students love him” said Nichol.
Smith honored with Botetourt Award
Laura Elizabeth Smith, from Lancaster, PA, received the Lord Botetourt Medal from the College of William and Mary during Commencement ceremonies May 20.
The Lord Botetourt Medal was established in 1772 “for the honor and encouragement of literary merit.” In contemporary times, it has been given to the graduating senior who has attained the greatest distinction in scholarship.
Smith, graduated Sunday with a perfect 4.0 GPA with a double major in music, where she received high honors, and in anthropology.
“Laura’s commitment to the life of the mind is matched only by her commitment to service,” said William and Mary President Gene R. Nichol in presenting the award to Smith. “Laura has lived richly and fully in her four years at William and Mary, and will – I have no doubt - continue to share her love of music wherever she goes.”
Smith, a member of Mortar Board, was also recently inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor fraternity, and given the organizations Callahan Chappell Award as its most outstanding initiate.
Scofield Honored with Carr Memorial Cup
Ryan Michael Scofield, from Ashburn, VA, was honored with the James Frederic Carr Memorial Cup by the College of William and Mary at Commencement exercises May 20. Scofield was among more than 1200 undergraduates who received diplomas at the ceremony.
The award is given to the senior who best embodies the spirit of sacrifice and selflessness which characterized James Frederic Carr. The award’s namesake came to William and Mary in 1914 then left the college to serve in the First World War. He served his country with distinction but lost his life before he could return to the college.
“There are, unsurprisingly, a raft of letters urging us to bestow the Carr Cup on Ryan,” said William and Mary President Gene R. Nichol in presenting the award. “They are beautiful but unnecessary. We all know his service to his fellows and to our campus.”
Scofield was elected as Student Assembly president for two consecutive years, a feat rarely seen at the university, served as secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa and pledge master of Delta Phi. He was a member of Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa, was a dedicated campus tour guide and active in sexual assault peer education group One in Four. Scofield graduated Sunday Summa Cum Lauda.
Kristin France Honored with Thatcher Prize for Excellence
Kristin Emily France, from Gloucester, VA, received the Thatcher Prize for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Study at commencement exercises May 20. The prize was announced and presented by William and Mary President Gene R. Nichol.
In presenting the award Nichol said, “Kristin France has achieved an admirable integration of scholarly pursuit and the call to serve a greater good. She is, as one of her recommenders writes, no less than ‘a pioneer in the new generation of natural scientists that is more explicitly dedicated to the public good.”
The Thatcher Prize was created in honor of the 21st Chancellor of the College, Margaret the Lady Thatcher. It is given annually to recognize an outstanding student in their graduate or professional school studies. The winner is selected on the basis of scholarship, service and character.
France graduated from William and Mary Sunday with a PhD in marine science from the University’s Virginia Institute in Marine Science. During her tenure she won a highly competitive Graduate Research Fellowship from the national Science Foundation, an equally competitive EPA-STAR Fellowship, and brought in more than $180,000 in research grants. She has published her research in Nature and other leading journals.
