2002 President's Medalists
Six graduating Denison University seniors whose interests range from sustainable agriculture, Dred Scott and sports writing to philosophy, an Ugandan tribal history, and satire were honored today (Friday, April 19) by President Dale T. Knobel as this year's "President's Medalists" during the University's annual spring Academic Awards Convocation.
The President's Medals were established in 1985 as Denison's highest and most prestigious honor, recognizing students who have demonstrated not only intellectual achievement, but also have made some other significant contribution to the community in such areas as global awareness, athletic fitness, leadership and campus discourse.
This year's six President's Medal candidates, four of whom were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, one as a junior, were presented by Professor Eloise Buker, chair of the faculty. All of the medalists were named to the 2001 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities and four also were named as Distinguished Leadership Award winners earlier this month. Three of the medalists are from Ohio. The President's Medal winners for 2001 are (with links to their personal profiles and individual photographs):
- Sarah Marie Borron, daughter of Judy and Ronald Borron of Bargersville, Ind.;
- Robyn Lee Bowers, daughter of Melanie and Gary Bowers of Enon, Ohio;
- Nathaniel Peter Sheldon Cook, son of Janet and Philip Cook III of Sidney, Ohio;
- Jesse Tabor Eaves, son of Laura Kay and John Eaves of Nashville, Tenn.;
- Yaida Oni Ford, daughter of Linda Ford and Earl Ford of Vancouver, Wash.; and
- Thomas Frost Hankinson, son of Margery and Richard Hankinson of Mansfield, Ohio.
Also recognized at the ceremonies were the students who garnered national awards, were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, named as Dean's Leadership Award winners, and the 83 students who completed senior honor's research projects. The 2002 winner of the Charles A. Brickman Teaching Excellence Award was also named at the convocation.
Providing music for the ceremony were The Denison Singers conducted by Professor William Osborne and accompanied by Meredith Needham '78, pianist. Osborne also played the chapel organ for the academic processional and recessional.