Outgoing board chairman Richard Tilghman (left) receives a gift from newly elected alumni board chair Richard Payne. |
As the academic year neared its close, the U.Va. Alumni Association’s annual awards luncheon on April 21 provided an occasion to mark achievements and look to the future.
Richard B. Payne Jr. (Col ’70), elected incoming chairman of the association’s Board of Managers, saluted his predecessor, Richard G. Tilghman (Col ’63), and departing board members Joseph P. Bornstein (Com ’65), Harry Burn III (Col ’66, GSBA ’75), Philip B. Pool Jr. (Com ’76), Diana Sun Solymossy (Col ’75) and Ann H. Taylor (Col ’80, GSBA ’85).
Under Tilghman’s leadership, the board oversaw the negotiation of a major restructuring agreement with the University and the transition from the retiring John B. "Jack" Syer (Col ’61) to C. Thomas Faulders III (Col ’71) as president and CEO of the Alumni Association.
Allen B. Rider III (Col ’76, GSBA ’83) was elected to succeed Payne as the board’s vice chairman. Payne and Rider officially take their new posts July 1.
The following awards were given out at the April event:
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The Alumni Association Ernest H. Ern Distinguished Student Award, funded through the Jefferson Trust for Excellence, provides a cash prize of $2,500 and life membership in the association to a member of the student body who has won recognition in the academic community for leadership and for significant contributions to University life.
This year, there are three winners: Stewart Hill Ackerly (Col ’06), Meredith Lee Lazarus (Col ‘06) and Robert Guyton Schoenvogel (Col ’00, GSBA ’06). An Echols Scholar, Ackerly has been an active leader of the University Honor Committee; a member of St. Elmo Hall fraternity and the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society; and was a walk-on member of the track and field team. A distinguished major in history, he is also a Gray-Carrington Award winner and consistent dean’s list student. Lazarus, a standout on the women’s varsity lacrosse team, is also a dean’s list student and participant in both the student-athlete mentor program to promote healthy drinking behavior and Student-Athlete Advisory Council. A member of Kappa Alpha Theta, she is an active volunteer in the Toy Lift and Special Olympics. Schoenvogel, a former student member of the University’s Board of Visitors, is a Frank E. Genovese Fellow at the Darden School, where he is co-president of the Outreach Community Service Club. He is also president of the University’s Raven Society.
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The Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award, a $2,500 gift also funded through the Jefferson Trust for Excellence, recognizes a member of the University community whose leadership qualities serve as an inspiring example.
This year’s honoree is Bryson E. Clevenger Jr. (Grad ’00), the senior research advisor in the reference room at Alderman Library. He was lauded for his helpfulness to desperate scholars, and has also written extensively on his work. In 2003, he served as the first visiting reference librarian at the reopened Shanghai University, where he instructed Chinese librarians in American reference methods.
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The Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award carries with it a $5,000 cash award and life membership in the association, funded by the Jefferson Trust. It recognizes a long-time faculty member who has excelled as a classroom teacher, shown unusual concern for students, and made significant contributions to the life of the University.
This year’s winner is Lillian R. BeVier, the John S. Shannon Distinguished Professor of Law. She has taught constitutional law, intellectual property, real property and torts since joining the Law School faculty in 1973. With a long list of awards, professional recognitions and community involvements, BeVier was enthusiastically lauded by colleagues and students alike. Former student Ryan Shores wrote: "Some professors are terrific teachers, some innovative scholars, and some tireless servants to their students and communities. Few are all three. Lillian BeVier is at the head of that select few."
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The Young Alumni Council Service Award celebrates the individual service contributions of one or two outstanding alumni, and provides a $1,000 donation to be directed to any part of the University.
This year’s winners are Calvert Saunders Moore (Col ’90) and Lisa Marie Kelley (Nurs ‘99). Moore is a member of the board of trustees of the College of Arts & Sciences Foundation and chairs its buildings and grounds committee. She also serves on the U.Va. Art Museum’s advisory board, helps select Jefferson Scholars in Long Island, is active with the current capital campaign, and chaired the Class of 1990’s reunion giving committee. Moore assigned her gift to the South Lawn Project. Kelley is a member of the School of Nursing Alumni Council and Advisory Board, where she advises the Legacy magazine and has been interviewing all former presidents of the school’s alumni group. She designated her gift to the Nursing School Scholarship Fund.
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The Gray-Carrington Award was established in 1971 in memory of Arthur P. "Pete" Gray IV and in 1987 was expanded to honor Edward C. Carrington Jr. It honors students who excel in person integrity, achievement, leadership and humility. Winners receive tuition, room, board and fees for one year.
This year’s winners are E. Ross Baird (Col ’07) of Atlanta and Sabra C. Lewsey (Col ’07) of Gaithersburg, Md. Baird, a student in the politics honors program, is a Jefferson, Echols and Gooch scholar and dean’s list student every semester. His long list of extracurricular activities includes serving as president of the second- and third-year classes, a fellowship with the Center for the Study of the American Presidency, an internship with U.Va.’s Center for Politics, and coaching youth sports. Lewsey, a human biology major, is an Echols, Holland and Ridley scholar. She has served as a peer advisor for the Office of African American Affairs, a peer health educator, an honor educator and youth tutor, and has also participated in on-Grounds dance troupes.
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The Kelly O'Hara Memorial Scholarship honors a rising fourth-year student who exhibits outstanding personal character, dedication to the service of others, leadership through example and scholastic merit. Recipients split a $6,000 scholarship.
This year’s winners are Leah Welbourn (Nurs ‘07) of Brentwood, Tenn., and Jill Lorenzi (Col ‘07) of Chantilly, Va. A marathoner and triathlete, Welbourn has served as a Bible study and fellowship leader and Sunday School teacher. As a member of a Nursing Students Without Borders, she participated in a service trip to South Africa, and has done service projects through Habitat for Humanity’s "Bike and Build" program and took part in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Lorenzi has served as program director for Madison House Daycare and as a resident assistant. She is also an intramural athlete and participates in Catholic Student Ministries.
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The namesake of the Meikel Andrade Memorial Scholarship died two months before she was to matriculate in 1998. Awarded through the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund, the $1,000 award, renewable for four years, goes to an African-American female entering her first year who exhibits leadership, commitment, integrity, resourcefulness, creativity and a sense of humor.
This year’s winner is India Nicole Dillard (Col ’09) of Martinsville, Va. In high school, she was president of her class for all four years, captained the cheerleading squad and was drum major for the marching band. She was also an active community volunteer, and established a summer dance program for younger African-American girls.
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The Gregory Raven Batipps Memorial Scholarship and Literary Prize is also part of the Ridley Fund. The $5,000 scholarships go to second- or third-year students who exemplify Batipps’ high moral character, integrity and love for the written word. The literary prize is worth $1,000.
This year’s winners are Desiree Davis (Col ’07) of Midlothian, Va., and Debola Badejo (Engr ’08) of Lagos, Nigeria. Davis, who is pursuing an interdisciplinary media studies major, chairs the Alumni Association’s Third-Year Council. She is senior resident in Fitzhugh House and next year will be a senior resident for Gooch and Dillard houses. She also writes a column for the Cavalier Daily and volunteers through Madison House. Badejo is a systems engineering and information science major and has participated in several leadership programs. He is active in Christian groups and the Organization of African Students, among many other activities.
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The Ravenell "Ricky" Keller III Memorial Scholarship, another Ridley Fund award, is a one-time, $2,500 gift to allow African-American students to study abroad.
This year’s winner, Grace Milad (Col ’08), will travel to Ghana to volunteer in an AIDS clinic and an orphanage, and secondarily to study how non-Western people approach Western medicine. A human biology major, Milad participates in the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, the International Residential College and the Westhaven Nursing Clinic. After her trip to Ghana, she plans to be a leader at the Exploration Summer Camp at Yale University, where she will teach a class on health and body image to high school students.
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The Thomas Rodney Crowley Jr. Scholarship goes to a rising fourth-year student who is proficient in athletics and academics, and who demonstrates integrity, competitiveness and team leadership. The award covers full in-state tuition, room and board.
This year’s winners are James H. Hamilton (Com ’07) and Michael E. Kirkman (Com ‘07). Hamilton is secretary-treasurer of the Inter-Fraternity Council, a volunteer youth basketball coach, and is president of the U.Va. golf club team. Kirkman, formerly a walk-on member of the varsity lacrosse team, coaches youth lacrosse, and takes part in several intramural sports.
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The Dana H. Rowe Scholarship recognizes a student from New England enrolled in the School of Law, College of Arts & Sciences or Graduate School of Architecture who possesses a great love for the University of Virginia, and who has shown through their contributions to student life that they will likely be an active participating alumnus or alumna. Winners split a $4,000 scholarship.
This year’s winners are Devin Huseby (Law ‘07) of Grand Isle, Vt., and Bianca A. Siravo (Col ’07) of North Providence, R. I. Huseby, who is contemplating a career in environmental law, participates in the Virginia Environmental Law Forum and the Migrant Farmworker Project. Siravo, a resident advisor, is active in Madison House, and has participated in First-Year Council and the Italian Society.
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