On Sunday, May 8, Hampden-Sydney College celebrated Commencement marking the conclusion of the College's 241st year. The rain held off, allowing 236 seniors to receive diplomas in the sunshine on Venable Lawn.
- TaylorReveleyIII not only gave the Commencement address but was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of his contributions to the life of the mind, distinguished service, and strong commitment to public service. He is the president of the College of William & Mary, the son of the former president of Hampden-Sydney College, and his son is now president of Longwood University.
Several students, faculty, and staff were honored with various awards:
The Gammon Cup, awarded to the student-athlete in the graduating class who has best served the College, was given to Michael Taiwan Murray.
The Anna Carrington Harrison Award, awarded to the student who shows the most constructive leadership in a school year, was presented to Matthew Robert Goodrich.
The Phi Beta Kappa Award for Intellectual Excellence, given to recognize intellectual excellence as manifested in outstanding student research, was awarded to Lucas Aaron Hanshaw and Linh Van Nguyen.
Dr. Julia E. Palmer, associate professor of modern languages, was the recipient of the Cabell Award for outstanding classroom teaching.
Jason M. Ferguson '96, director of admissions, was given the Robert Thruston Hubard IV Award for active devotion and service to the College and her ideals.
The Thomas Edward Crawley Award, awarded to the professor most distinguished for devoted service to the ideals of Hampden-Sydney and the education of her sons, was given to Dr. Saranna Robinson Thornton, professor of economics.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion, given to a member of the graduating class who has distinguished himself for excellence of character and generous service to his fellows, and others who are conspicuously helpful to and associated with the institution in its effort to encourage and preserve a high standard of morals, were awarded to Holden Keith McLemore, The Honorable Dr. John Hillen, and Eunice Ward Carwile '92, respectively.
The final award was the Senior Class Award, which was given to Dr. Lowell T. Frye and Dr. Elizabeth J. Deis for their contributions to the College, its students, and the community.
The Class of 2016 also presented the College with a check for $7,145 towards a scholarship in honor of Coach Ray Rostan, who is retiring from his position as Head Lacrosse Coach.
This year, two ROTC cadets were commissioned as officers in the United States Army. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Rucker Snead '81 administered the Oath of Office as Evan Curtis Harris and Kordell Dandridge Strauss received their Gold Bars.
Following this ceremony, the valedictory address was given by Benjamin Branch Edward Vincent, who became the First Honor Graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 3.9933.
Interim President Dennis Stevens closed Commencement with his remarks to the graduating class, informing them that "all of us who remain on this Hill will follow your exploits with intense interest and no small measure of pride."
