The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards

Allisyn N. Lam ’25 & Kyle C. Lewis-Johnson ’25 - 2025 Student Recipients

Allisyn N. Lam

Allisyn N. Lam uses her entrepreneurial spirit to advance flourishing in her communities. One nominator writes that she approaches service with the question: “How can we make this happen?”

An aspiring physician, Ms. Lam graduates with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. As the president of Food for All at William & Mary, she provided resources to faculty, staff and students who face food access issues. Under Ms. Lam’s leadership, Food for All distributed 2,500 meals to more than 200 individuals in just over a year.

Ms. Lam’s compassion, energy for service and empathy for others are contagious. Strongly committed to creating “lasting change,” Ms. Lam created an infrastructure to ensure Food for All will continue to have a lasting impact at William & Mary beyond her graduation. In honor of her dedication, Ms. Lam was presented the 2023 President’s Award for Service to the Community.

Ms. Lam helped lead a statewide student coalition to address food insecurity on college campuses in Virginia. She welcomed members of the General Assembly to William & Mary, encouraged students across the state to do the same and traveled to Richmond to meet with legislative staff. The coalition’s efforts resulted in bipartisan passage of the Virginia Hunger Free Campus Act, establishing a $500,000 state-funded grant program for campus food pantries.

Ms. Lam’s peers, mentors and faculty admire her joy, integrity and courage. She pursues international humanitarian projects with Rotary International, including supplying the Sawua Elementary School in Ghana and bringing water and sanitation to earthquake victims in Turkey.

According to Ms. Lam, “Our degrees come with responsibilities; as the resources of our communities have enabled us to pursue a world-class education, we have been empowered with particular skills that have the potential to give back to others who lack the same access.”

Kyle C. Lewis-Johnson

Kyle C. Lewis-Johnson has dedicated himself to building community at William & Mary and beyond. An empathetic leader, he distinguished himself as a Sharpe Community Scholar and a Student Assembly senator. Colleagues laud his “willingness to sacrifice his time and energy for the betterment of others.”

Mr. Lewis-Johnson graduates with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He helped remove barriers for underrepresented students in STEM and organized mentorship programs and networking opportunities. He created outreach initiatives as a member of the executive board of William & Mary’s chapter of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). At the NOBCChE 51st Conference, Mr. Lewis-Johnson received the Undergraduate Rising Star in Research award, and the W&M Chapter was recognized for K-12 outreach.

Nominators hail his talent for making chemistry “more accessible and engaging” for his peers. A talented tutor, Mr. Lewis-Johnson brings unending patience and encouragement to his work. He has a knack for breaking down complex concepts. The William & Mary Chemistry Department awarded Mr. Lewis-Johnson the Marga Larson Bales Scholarship for his research and emphasis on teaching.

Mr. Lewis-Johnson worked tirelessly to advance inclusivity and belonging on campus and in the surrounding Williamsburg community. As a Sharpe Community Scholar, he passionately advocated on civic issues to create positive change. He skillfully bridged town-gown boundaries and planned on-campus events for the general public with Alma Mater Productions. In the Student Assembly, Mr. Lewis-Johnson consistently sought to improve student experiences across the university.

Mr. Lewis-Johnson’s nominators admire his tenacity. They describe how he brings “enthusiasm, humility and sincere desire to make a difference” to every challenge he meets. His unwavering optimism, compassion and integrity exemplify the heart, mind and conduct of the Sullivan Award.