After four years of late nights, early mornings, and memories cherished, with a final turn of the tassel, the Class of 2025 has taken its place among the storied Hampden-Sydney alumni network.
During the May 10, 2025, ceremony on the front lawn of Venable Hall, audience members heard from inspiring members of our community such as President Larry Stimpert; Drew Blankenship’25, student body president; Ben Currin ’25, valedictorian; and Rob Citrone ’87, keynote speaker.
The overarching message of the day was that, though their time at Hampden-Sydney has come to an end, the graduates’ work is only just beginning. Ruminating on chapter six of the book of Isaiah, Curran noted that graduates have to be both willing and ready to take on the challenge of leaving the places they touch better than they found them, just as they did the College.
Rob Citrone, founder of Discovery Capital Management, minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and valedictorian of the class of 1987, imparted wisdom on a topic he knows well: risk. Though he wasn’t speaking about the risk of making a market move but rather on the matter of personal risk. “Life doesn't require perfection,” Citrone said. “It requires courage: the courage to take a leap before you know where you may land, the courage to bet on yourself.” Citrone gave graduates three pieces of advice: Swing big and be ready to fail. Take more risk, not less. And stay the course.
“I graduated from Hampden-Sydney a few decades ago, and while the world looks a lot different today, the values we learn here are timeless: honor, integrity, leadership, and character,” he said. “We need Hampden-Sydney men to be leaders who are bold enough to challenge the status quo but grounded enough to listen…never stop asking questions, never stop learning, and never, ever think you figured it all out.”
Congratulations to the Class of 2025! And in the words of Mr. Citrone: “Go show the world what a Hampden Sydney man can do.”
Life doesn't require perfection. It requires courage: the courage to take a leap before you know where you may land, the courage to bet on yourself.
Rob Citrone ’87
Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards:
Cabell Award: Elliott Associate Professor of Rhetoric Sean Gleason Created by the Robert G. Cabell III and Maude Morgan Cabell Foundation to assist the College in attracting and keeping professors of high ability and integrity and given annually to “a Hampden-Sydney faculty member in recognition of outstanding classroom contribution to the education of Christian young men.”
The Thomas Edward Crawley Award: Thompson Professor of Philosophy Marc A. Hight An award given annually in honor of Professor Thomas Edward Crawley to “that professor most distinguished for devoted service to the ideals of Hampden-Sydney and the education of her sons.”
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion: Kenten Joseph Bero, Andrew Wallace Blankenship, Joseph Kade Minton, and Carter Larson Spawn Given annually by the New York Southern Society in honor of its first president, Algernon Sydney Sullivan. The recipient of this award is a member of the graduating class who has distinguished himself for excellence of character and generous service to his fellows. Other recipients may be chosen from friends of the College who have been conspicuously helpful to the institution in its efforts to encourage and preserve a high standard of morals.
Samuel S. Jones Phi Beta Kappa Award: Ethan Todd Larsen The Phi Beta Kappa Award for Intellectual Excellence was established by Samuel S. Jones, Class of 1943, to recognize intellectual excellence as manifested in outstanding student research.
The Anna Carrington Harrison Award: William Preston Morris An award given as a memorial to his mother by the late Mr. Fred N. Harrison of Richmond, is awarded to the student who shows the most constructive leadership in a school year.
The Gammon Cup:Adam Vanderbeek Brazil Given in memory of Dr. Edgar G. Gammon, a member of Hampden-Sydney College’s class of 1905 who was captain of the College’s football, baseball, and track teams is awarded to the student-athlete in the graduating class who has best served the College, who shows not only athletic ability and scholarship, but embodies Dr. Gammon’s outstanding character
The Senior Class Award:Elliott Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Ray Kleinlein Given by the senior class to a community member for their contributions to the College, its students, and the community
During the May 10, 2025, ceremony on the front lawn of Venable Hall, audience members heard from inspiring members of our community such as President Larry Stimpert; Drew Blankenship ’25, student body president; Ben Currin ’25, valedictorian; and Rob Citrone ’87, keynote speaker.
