8/26/2025
On the front lawn of Venable, students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate the start of a historic academic year. President Larry Stimpert opened the ceremony by reflecting on Hampden-Sydney’s founding, sharing how the determination of the College’s founding president Samuel Stanhope Smith led to the creation of a college on the edge of the wilderness. He also recognized Nathaniel Venable for his valuable contributions and Peter Johnson for providing land for the College—a place that, 250 years later, still thrives with talented students, dedicated faculty and staff, and a campus as beautiful as ever.
Following the oaths of the new student government officers—including members of the Student Senate, Student Court, and College Activities Council—Student Body President Owen Williams ’26 welcomed back his fellow seniors, noting both the magnitude of the occasion and the rarity of celebrating such a milestone. Addressing the freshmen, Owen encouraged them to “be where their feet are” and not take their time at Hampden-Sydney for granted, before reminding everyone of the significance of their years on the Hill: “We all share a common mission—one that will follow us for the rest of our lives. This mission is the pursuit of excellence over perfection: the pursuit of something greater and more profound than we could ever fully realize—the sharpening of our minds, our character, and our values.”
“That mission comes with a standard—one that demands more of us,” Owen continued. “Excellence here is not just a goal; it is an expectation. It is seen in how we speak and act with honesty and integrity, how we lead with humility, how we treat others with respect, and how we challenge ourselves to improve every single day. Excellence at Hampden-Sydney is not perfection—it is consistency and character, and the Hampden-Sydney man is in high demand in our nation.”
Building on Owen’s message, Christopher Peace ’98, president of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, addressed the crowd after a warm welcome from Johns Professor of English Sarah Hardy, who recalled teaching him in her very first Introduction to Literature course at Hampden-Sydney in 1995. Peace noted the vision of the College’s founders, who sought to advance society through education, drawing on founding Trustee Patrick Henry and his strong belief for education: “Patrick Henry was a man of conviction, a man of faith, a defender of liberty. He believed education could shape a new republic.”
Peace went on to encourage students to fully embrace their education and time on the Hill while engaging thoughtfully with the College’s history—all while living in the moment and celebrating 250 years of an extraordinary institution, one our founders would recognize as rich in civic virtue.
“This is a year unlike any other, because you are here—this moment, this year, will never come again,” Peace said. “Make the most of it. Seize the day. Examine our history thoughtfully. Reflect deeply. Love your brothers, care for them, practice virtue, and be a gentleman. What Hampden-Sydney gives you, give to others. By accepting this charge, you honor those who came before and inspire those who will come after. As the College enters its next 250 years, its purpose remains unchanged in an era when public discourse is shallow, institutions are often distrusted, and virtue is sometimes mocked. Hampden-Sydney endures, 250 years from its founding.”
Dean of the Faculty Tim Diette and President Stimpert awarded the following students for their outstanding achievements in academics and extracurricular activities:
Jackson M. Cofer ’27 received the Samuel S. Jones Phi Beta Kappa Award, given to the junior with the highest cumulative grade point average.
Austin G. Apesa ’27 received the Samuel S. Jones Phi Beta Kappa Award, given to the junior with the second-highest cumulative grade point average.
Michael Christopher Patrick ’27 received the President's Award for Scholarship and Character, which is presented to a junior who has excelled in the classroom at Hampden-Sydney and who demonstrates the quality of character that enriches the life of the campus community.
Jameson Cooper Smith ’26 received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence in Humanities.
Cooper W. York ’26 received the President's Award for Academic Excellence in Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Ansen Lackner ’26 received the President's Award for Academic Excellence in Social Sciences.
Cooper W. York ’26 received the President's Award for Overall Academic Excellence.
Aaron Yukito Tong ’28 received the Thomas H. Shomo ’69 Omicron Delta Kappa Award for Leadership Potential, given to a member of the sophomore class who demonstrated real leadership potential during his freshman year.
Congratulations to this year’s award recipients, and here’s to a successful academic year ahead as we celebrate 250 years of Hampden-Sydney College!