2006 President's Medalists
President Dale T. Knobel recognized five graduating Denison University seniors as this year's "President's Medalists" during the University's annual spring Academic Awards Convocation. For the first time in the 21-year history of the award, all five winners are women. The five outstanding students, whose interests range from psychology and neuroscience to autism, AIDS education in Tanzania and athletics, were honored today (Friday, April 21) during the convocation, which also recognizes faculty members for their outstanding contributions to the academic life of the University. They were joined on stage in Swasey Chapel by faculty members holding endowed chairs and professorships.
Professor Emmett Buell was announced as the first holder of a newly endowed professorship, the Richard Lugar Professor of Public Policy, and Professor Charles O'Keefe, modern languages, was honored as this year's winner of the Charles A. Brickman Teaching Excellence Award.
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.
The President's Medal winners for 2006 are (with links to profiles and photos of each):
This year's five President's Medalists, three of whom were also named to Phi Beta Kappa, were presented by Professor Charles Sokolik, chair of the faculty. All five of the medalists also were named as Distinguished Leadership Award winners earlier this month, and all five also were named in this year's edition of "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Also recognized at the ceremonies were: all students who garnered national awards, students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, students named as Dean's Distinguished Leadership Award winners, and the 90 seniors who completed honors projects.
Senior soprano Mary Sheridan, faculty pianist Kevin Wines and organist Scott Hayes provided special music for the ceremonies.