Accomplished third-year students and recognized faculty members gathered on the tarp-covered basketball court at University Hall on Friday afternoon for this year's Fall Convocation.
In addition to the 644 third years who received Intermediate Honors at the ceremony, University President John T. Casteen III paid tribute to Prof. Janine Jagger, winner of the recent "genius" award, and Prof. James F. Childress, the winner of this year's Thomas Jefferson Award.
Out of the approximately 3,000 students in the class of 2002, 644 received Intermediate Honors, which requires a 3.4 cumulative GPA or better while carrying a full course load during the first two years at the University.
"In these difficult times, we affirm Mr. Jefferson's faith in the potential of education to restore what failures of humanity sometimes destroy," Casteen said in his opening remarks. "Today we acknowledge publicly that our students are agents of justice, democracy and positive change. With their talents and their education they can be relied on to set things right in the world."
Jagger, a professor of health care worker safety and the director of the International Health Care Worker Safety Center, followed Casteen with the convocation address. Recently named one of this year's MacArthur Fellows, she and her colleagues have received national recognition for designing some of the first needle-stick protective devices.
Casteen described Jagger's research as devices that "protect the person administering an injection against a blood-borne infection by resheathing the needle within a syringe." He added that "tens of thousands of health care workers work nowadays with security they did not have before Janine Jagger realized that they were not to blame for needle sticks."
Jagger gave the students some practical pointers.
"To identify your strengths requires a variety of experiences and a willingness to endure some unpleasant lessons in self-discovery," she said. "Be passionate, but within the limits of what can be supported by documentation."
Casteen bestowed the Thomas Jefferson Award to Childress, a religious studies professor and director of the Institute for Practical Ethics. Casteen said the award -- the University's most prestigious honor for a faculty member -- is given each year to the person who "in character, influence and life work exemplifies the principles on which this institution was founded."
Casteen commended Childress' work in the field of biomedical ethics and extolled hisdevotion to education.
"Despite abundant national recognition and pressing calls on his time from other quarters, Mr. Childress is always clear that his first obligation -- and his first love -- lies in teaching the students of the University, and in doing all that he can to enhance their learning and their moral growth during their years here," he said.
Casteen thanked Childress for his constant service to the University.
"He is the opposite of the stereotypical, bunkered scholar," he said.
Read More
Dean Rucker honored with Z Society’s highest honor, Pale Z Award
By Brendon Bordwine | 12 hours agoThe Society has a storied history of honoring University leaders with the Pale Z.
Students receive free STI testing through U.Va. Health and Wellness
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayThrough funding from Student Council, students are now able to receive free STI testing with SHW which includes tests for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C.
President Ryan signs collective statement condemning Trump administration
By Cecilia Mould | YesterdayWhile the statement claims that signees are willing to enact reforms and cooperate with government supervision, it disagrees with the current administration’s decision to withdraw funding from institutions.
