Cypher Award

The Student Assembly is responsible for The Cypher Award - an award that recognizes up to 40 graduating students with exemplary engagement, leadership, and service to W&M.

The 2021 Cypher Award Recipients have been selected and their names can be found below! These individuals will be honored on the virtual Evening of Excellence website and on Student Assembly's social media platforms (@wmstudentassembly) beginning the week of May 3rd.

Originally, named in honor of former W&M President Benjamin Stoddert Ewell, the 327th Student Assembly recognized a unique opportunity to update the award in order to align it with W&M’s first official Statement of Values, drafted and approved by both the Board of Visitors and the State Council of Higher Education in fall 2019. Through Senate Bill 327-029, the award has been updated and will henceforth be named after the Cypher – the primary identifying mark of the university. The Cypher Award honors individuals whose contributions reflect the primary values of the university - belonging, curiosity, excellence, flourishing, integrity, respect, and service.

Recipients of the Cypher Award (and previous recipients of the Ewell Award) represent the very best of W&M students. These students have been unceasing in their efforts to make a meaningful difference while at W&M and are stewards of our university’s core values.