Record Number of Nominations Powers UMW Eagle Awards for Exceptional Contributions
As Honor Council president, University of Mary Washington junior Adam McAninley upholds academic integrity across campus. He’s shared his school spirit as a campus tour guide, represented UMW students at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and interned on Capitol Hill.
Last week, McAninley, a double-major in political science and environmental science, earned more feathers to put in his cap, receiving not one but two honors – the Prince Woodard Emerging Leader Award and the Cedric Rucker Eagle Beyond Compare Award. The accolades were bestowed during the annual Eagle Awards event, held Thursday evening in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom.
From more than 200 nominations – a program record – the event awarded 32 honors to UMW students and administrators who’ve gone above and beyond, and organizations and programs that have made a significant impact on campus.
Assistant Director of New Student Programs Lillian Lester ’20, who won the Prince Woodard Emerging Leader Award herself in her junior year at UMW, hosted with Director of Student Activities and Engagement Shannon Finney ’18, who won the Prince Woodard Outstanding Leader Award as a senior. Coming full-circle to now dole out the honors to others, Lester and Finney regaled the crowd with their unique brand of humor and their mutual love for being in front of an audience.
“We are so excited to have you here tonight to celebrate all of our campus leaders,” said Lester, who was among the evening’s recipients, earning the Gwen Hale Giving Tree Award. One of her nominators for the prize – honoring a faculty or staff member who’s contributed significantly to the mission of the University through direct work with students – described Lester as “UMW in a bottle.”
Others joined the co-hosts, taking turns presenting awards throughout the evening, including Dean of Students Melissa Jones, Vice President of Student Affairs Mike Walsh, James Farmer Multicultural Center Director Marion Sanford. They were accompanied by Bachelor of Liberal Studies Director and Spanish Professor Ana Chichester; Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees; Center for Career and Professional Development Student Experience Manager Emily Burke ’15; and UMW senior Olivia-Lena De Veaux.
Student Government Association President Amira Said won the coveted Grace Mann Launch Award, reserved for graduating seniors who promote social justice and equality, and are committed to improving lives by affecting change. Grace Mann was a UMW leader and social justice activist who died seven years ago during her junior year.
“Each year, this award recognizes a student who sees the world not as it is, but as it could be, just as Grace did,” Jones said of Said, who among other things, leads ASPIRE Week, celebrating UMW values of accountability, scholarship, integrity, inclusion, respect and engagement.
“Amira has taken on leadership roles not just as positions, but as opportunities – to create space, to connect people, to make systems work better for everyone. Whether through student government, mentorship or countless other roles, she has made this university more responsive, more inclusive and more alive. And when she saw opportunities to do more – she did just that. More.”
Below is a list of all of this year’s Eagle Award recipients.
- Prince Woodard Emerging Leader Award: Adam McAninley
- Prince Woodard Outstanding Leader Award: Ashlyn Diederich
- Advisor of the Year Award: Research and Instruction Librarian Peter Catlin
- Alex Naden Award: Aloysious Kabonge
- Bachelor of Liberal Studies Award: Richard Simpson
- Cedric Rucker Eagle Beyond Compare Award: Adam McAninley
- Clara Boyd Wheeler Outstanding Community Service Program: COAR: Food Recovery Program
- Collaboration Award: Latino Student Association, Women of Color & Asian Student Association
- Elizabeth M. Baumgarten Service Award: Victoria Smith
- Executive Board Member of the Year: Sarah Eshbach
- Grace Mann Launch Award: Amira Said
- Gwen Hale Giving Tree Award: Lillian Lester
- In the Wings Award: UMW Facilities
- In the Wings Award: Adelaide Gill
- In the Wings Award: Alicia Tisdale
- Innovation Award: UMW Women in Business
- James Farmer Defining a Legacy Award: Ryder Ward
- Leader in Service Award: Hannah Jadgchew
- Life after Mary Washington Champion Award: Professor of Computer Science Karen Anewalt
- Life after Mary Washington Champion Award: Kate Stoneman
- Mentorship Award: Center for International Education Director Jose Sainz
- Organization Member of the Year: Maddie Marshall
- Outstanding Diversity Program: Colors of Africa
- Outstanding Educational Program: Educando Nuestra Comunidad – Educating our Community
- Outstanding Large Program: Ghost Walk
- Outstanding New Club: Badminton Club
- Outstanding New Program: FTC Fallfest
- Outstanding Overall Achievement for a Club or Organization: Young Democratic Socialists of America at UMW
- Outstanding Small Program: CPB Trivia
- Student Employee of the Year: Coni Vigna
- Student Manager of the Year: Carolyn Healy
- Unsung Hero Award: Kaitlyn Brouillette
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