Anand Edward Sokhey, son of Melanie and Jack Sokhey of Hickory Ridge Lane, Loveland, Ohio, was among six Denison University seniors who were honored by President Dale T. Knobel as this year's "President's Medalists" during the University's annual Academic Awards Convocation on April 11. Sokhey is 1999 graduate of 1999 graduate of Moeller High School in Cincinnati.

President Knobel's presentation remarks:

"What do you get when you cross a studio art major with a political science major? You get Anand Sokhey, a Phi Beta Kappa student and Rhodes nominee who has combined a remarkable scholarly record with significant contributions to the arts.

"Anand, one of your professors writes that you have 'built a scholarly record like that of some new assistant professors.' And the record bears out that estimate. You have done outstanding original work on the political behavior of American rabbis, and by the time you graduate, you will have at least three publications in scholarly journals (such as the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion), presented papers at three professional conferences, and you will have earned a near perfect grade point average at Denison.

"Another of your teachers likens you to a 'sponge' - not that you are soft, but rather that you absorb new ideas with singular rapidity. At the same time you have vigorously pursued your passion for the arts, earning among other honors the coveted McGaw Fine Arts Scholarship.

"One art professor noted that it was a shame you are a political scientist because you are 'such a damned good artist!'

"You have excelled in yet a third area of achievement at Denison in your many contributions to the larger life of the college. You were active as a student representative on the Academic Affairs Council, a very active vice president of the Delta Chi fraternity, and mentor in the honors program.

"On the basis of your record at Denison, The Ohio State University political science program, ranked seventh in the country, has awarded you a graduate fellowship.

"We applaud your stellar career at Denison, and wish you the best as you begin the next chapter in your impressive book of accomplishments."