April 28, 2026
On Thursday, April 23, students, faculty and staff members, and the campus community were joined by family and guests in Johns Auditorium to bring the 2025-2026 academic year to a close.
This cherished annual tradition serves as a tribute to student excellence in both scholarship and leadership, while also recognizing faculty members for their outstanding contributions to research and academic inquiry. We extend our sincerest congratulations to all of this year’s honorees for their remarkable achievements!
Final Convocation Award Winners
Administrative
John Peter Mettauer Award for Excellence in Research: Venable Professor of English Katherine J. Weese
The Advising Award: Spalding Professor of Chemistry Herb Sipe
Academic Success
Sophomore Academic Excellence Awards: Easton K. Crockett ’28, Colin T. Mason ’28, Jackson R. Ray ’28
Biology
Anderson Prize for Excellence in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Kaden D. Sawyer ’27
James R. T. Hewett Biology Award: Matthew T. Miscikowski ’26, Dillon P. McReynolds ’26
Hinton Baxter Overcash Award: Kaden D. Sawyer ’27
Chemistry
Topham Chemistry Award: Jackson M. Cofer ’27
Classics
Leila B. Thompson Eta Sigma Phi Prize in Latin: Ansen Lackner ’26
David C. Wilson Greek Prize: Steven Goudes-Shaw ’27
Economics and Business
Townsend Achievement Award: Walker K. Stebbings ’26
William R. Hendley Award in Economics and Business: Cooper B. Daniels ’26
English
Grace and Hassell Simpson Prize: Bryce J. Fowler ’26
Mary Saunders Critical Essay Prize: Ashby P. Bonin ’27
Sallie Wright Harrison Poetry Award: Landon K. May ’27
Shelley A. Marshall Short Story Award: Ashby P. Bonin ’27
Fine Arts/Music
Camilla Virginia Taylor Crawley Music Award: Luke A. Lindquist ’26, Ross A. Roberts ’26
Kearfott Stone ’35 Memorial Music Award: W. Scott Gibson ’26
Randolph Minter Glee Club Award: Seth E. Spickard ’26
Fine Arts/Visual Arts
McClintock Visual Arts Award: Martin P. Yordanov ’26
Robert H. Porterfield ’29 Drama Award: Keegan T. Kennedy ’26 Brown T. Riggins ’26
Flemming Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Entrepreneurial Leadership Award: Dillon M. Ball ’26
Global Education
Gemborys-Choate-Bouin-Swenson Award for International Studies: Brandon J. McClurkin ’28
Government and Foreign Affairs
James Madison Award for Excellence in Political Science: Caleb D. Camp ’26
History
Etta Sawyer Hart Bliss History Award (Outstanding Senior): Jonathan I. Coleman ’26, J. Watson Grabar ’26
Willard F. Bliss History Award (Outstanding Sophomore): Knox D. Burton ’28, Joseph M. Carbone ’28
Math and Computer Science
Macon Reed Award (Computer Science): Landon M. Ostermann ’28
Macon Reed Award (Math): Easton K. Crockett ’28
Selden-Franke Award (Computer Science): Hanson J. Harris ’27
Selden-Franke Award (Math): Vincent E. Palmeri ’28
William C. Chewning, Jr. ’67 Award: Ansen Lackner ’26, Seth E. Spickard ’26, Colton F. Harris ’26
Modern Languages
Outstanding Performance Award (Chinese): Emmett J. Adams ’29
Outstanding Performance Award (French): Henry C. Jennings ’29, Horatio Perry
Outstanding Performance Award (German): Joseph M. Carbone ’28, Richard H. Hope ’28
Outstanding Performance Award (Spanish): Gavin S. Yoder ’28, Ethan Parker ’29, Nicholas I. Hutson ’26
Ester Thomas Atkinson Museum
Cecil Richard Bowman ’67 M.D. Award: Timothy Francis O’Connell ’26, Brandon R. Broussard ’26
Physics and Astronomy
Hardy Cross 1902 Award in Physics: Chase M. Sanford ’26
Weyland Thomas Joyner Physics Award: Cooper W. York ’26, Luke M. Glenn ’26
Psychology
Department of Psychology Award: Camden T. Libby ’26, Luke A. Lindquist ’26
Religion
Gerald T. Carney for Excellence in the Study of Religion Award: James Edwin “Jed” Hampton’26
Rhetoric
The Claire Deal Award for Public Speaking: Cooper J. Goss ’28
The Victor Cabas Award for the Best Essay in Rhetoric 101: Daniel C. Gibbs Jr. ’29
The Susan Pepper Robbins Award for the Best Essay in Rhetoric 102: Ethan Parker ’29
Rhetoric 310 Advanced Best Public Speaking Award: Jonathan “Jake” Good ’28
The Deis-Frye Award for Creative Nonfiction: Henry A. Kvalevog ’27
The Stephen Colbert Prize for Excellence in Rhetoric Award: R. Elias Breeden ’26
Outstanding Rhetoric Studio Consultant Award: Jackson P. Martin ’26
Student Affairs
The Jeffrey N. Friend Award: Austin G. Apesa ’27
Student Organization Awards
Student Government Outstanding Club Award: Ducks Unlimited
Student Government Outstanding New Club Award: Chi Alpha Hampden-Sydney Campus Ministry
Resident Advisor of the Year Award: Logan J. Benton ’27, Buford J. Herndon ’27
CAC Member of the Year Award: Robert “Ned” Jordan ’28
IFC Member of the Year Award: Alfred “Field” Smith ’27
Student Justice System Investigator of the Year Award: Michael D. Pavlansky ’26
Senate Member of the Year Award: T. Parks Cromwell ’28
The ODK Cohen Citizenship Prize: Dillon M. Ball ’26
Lewis and Nell Drew Student Government Award: Carter P. Sido ’26