Presentation Remarks:

“James, it is often said that you embody the ideal of the well-rounded student.  But there are two types of well-roundedness. One resides in a person who signs up for everything and then like a flat pebble skims across the surface. Another plunges in at great depth in full realization of the richness of all his commitments. You fall squarely into this latter category. Given the quality of your curriculum and your successes in the classroom, it is clear that academics are the highest priority among those commitments. You crafted an Interdepartmental Major in Biomechanics that pulled together a wide array of disciplines, most notably physics, physical education, chemistry, and biology. What is extraordinary is that you got your IDM approved on the first pass by the Academic Affairs Council, a council that is known to be persnickety in approving these majors. You drove that theme home last summer when you were given a Young Scholar award to spend the summer researching ‘The Physics of Athletic Motion: A Biomechanical Analysis of Pitching Stress at the Elbow.’

“You have deftly blended your academic interests with your engagements in the athletic arena.  You have been highly successful as an anchor on the pitching squad of the Big Red baseball team.  You have been two-time captain, All-NCAC, ESPN Academic All-District, and in 2007 you were named by your peers the Denison Most Valuable Pitcher, leading the team in wins, shutouts, complete games, and innings pitched.

“At the same time you have served the College in numerous leadership and service roles: Senior Interviewer, panelist, and host for the admission office; three-time August Orientation staff member; Denison Student Athletic Advisory Committee — all of which led to your receiving the Distinguished Leadership award this past Tuesday.

“James, as you move on from Denison to attend the OSU Fisher School of Business, we celebrate your many accomplishments here, knowing full well that they are a certain harbinger of a brilliant future."

Student Achievements:

Dean's List; Distinguished Leadership Award; Honors Program; Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honorary); Mortar Board; Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Honorary); Phi Society; Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Health Honorary); Mary E. Carr Scholarship; Denison University Commencement Speaker; Nancy Sanders Scholarship; A.K. Stevenson Scholarship; Admissions Office - Senior Interviewer, Student Panel Member, Prospective Host; Varsity Athletics - Strength and Conditioning Intern; August Orientation - Staff; Varsity Baseball - Team Captain, Most Valuable Pitcher, ESPN the Magazine Standout Athlete Award, Academic All-District Team, Second-Team All-North Coast Athletic Conference, Team Leader - Wins, Shutouts, Complete Games, Innings Pitched, Team Leader - Appearances, Saves, Three-Year Letter Winner; Denison Student Athletic Advisory Committee - Vice President, Social Publicity Committee Chair; Home Runs for the Holidays Charity Fundraiser - Event Director; Bench Press to Beat Breast Cancer/Relay for Life; Refugee Resettlement Service (Atlanta)