Class of 2008 Profile

The Jepson School's 15th graduating class numbered 55 -- 37 majors and 18 minors. Representing 7 percent of the University’s graduating class of 738 students, Jepson seniors accounted for some 13 percent of students admitted into Phi Beta Kappa, 21 percent of students admitted into Mortar Board and 22 percent of students admitted into Omicron Delta Kappa. Many Jepson graduates took on honors work, played leadership roles on campus and received fellowships for research or to support their internships. Graduates report next-step activities including moves, travel, graduate school and jobs in various fields. Senior Plans

Honors and Accomplishments

The James McGregor Burns Award. The Burns Award is presented to a graduating senior in recognition of his/her accomplishments as a student in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. The winner of the award has demonstrated an outstanding grasp of the body of knowledge associated with leadership studies; excelled in his/her studies at the University generally; been actively involved in service to the community, School and University; shown an ability to generalize and apply leadership theory and research in unique and imaginative ways; and displayed the capacity both to lead others and help others lead themselves. The 2008 recipient was Eric D. Loepp.

Student Commencement Speaker. Eric D. Van Der Hyde was chosen as the student commencement speaker.

Candelight Ceremony Speaker. Erica R. Coleman was chosen as the Candelight Ceremony Speaker.

Senior Honors Thesis. The honors track provides students the opportunity to develop a research project in a particular area of leadership studies and to spend a full academic year working on this project with a Jepson faculty member. Students are expected to engage in rigorous and original research that will enrich and complement their previous study of leadership and contribute to the academic community of the Jepson School. These students completed a senior honors thesis and presented their research at the annual Arts & Sciences Symposium.

• Allison M. DuVal, Fostering Leaders for Social Justice: Ally Identity Development and Efficacy
  Advisor: Dr. Crystal L. Hoyt
   
• Kathryn P. Elberson, The Interaction of Nuclear Fiction and Leadership Studies
  Advisor: Dr. Ana Mitric
   
• Eric D. Loepp, Crisis Rhetoric: A Theory of Communication in Times of Crisis
  Advisors: Dr. Donelson R. Forsyth
   
• Jordan L. Wade, Democracy in the Workplace: Leadership in Cooperative Businesses
  Advisor: Dr. Thaddeus M. Williamson

Class of 1964 Scholarship. This goes to one student in each of the four undergraduate schools on the basis of character, leadership and scholarship. Jepson's recipient is Eric D. Van Der Hyde.

The Clarence J. Gray Achievement Award. The C.J. Gray Awards are given to one graduating senior in each of the four schools who is a member of both Phi Beta Kappa or Beta Gamma Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa or Mortar Board and has an outstanding four-year record in scholastic achievement and leadership. The 2008 recipient is Michael A. Connelly.

The Spencer D. Albright Book Award. Established in 1971 by friends and former students of Dr. Albright this award goes to an outstanding graduate in political science. The 2008 award went to Jepson graduate Eric D. Loepp.

The E. Bruce Heilman Leadership Award. Established in 1986 by the undergraduate student government associations, this award goes to the graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding character and leadership in service to the University. The 2008 winner was Allison M. DuVal.

Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society. Michael A. Connelly, Diane M. Kenaston, Eric D. Loepp, Erin D. Murdoch, Ashley E. Prime and Krista S. Weisman are members of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society.

Omicron Delta Kappa Society. This national leadership honor society recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. These seniors were selected to join: Michael A. Connelly, Allison M. DuVal, Stephen G. Horvath, Diane M. Kenaston, Erin D. Murdoch, Ashley R. O'Keefe, Lauren E. Reeves, Jordan L. Wade, Andrea M. Willis, Camille L. Wingo and Brittany D. Yates.

Mortar Board National Leadership Honor Society. Allison M. DuVal, Diane M. Kenaston, Leah C. Render and Eric D. Van Der Hyde are members of Mortar Board, the nation’s oldest national college senior honor society, recognizing leadership, service and academic achievement.

Scholar Student-Athletes. A scholar student-athletes must have contributed significantly to the Intercollegiate Athletics Program and have a 3.0 or higher GPA. Jepson's 2008 student-athletes were Douglas S. Banker and Peter D. Norquist.

Leadership Studies Honor Society. The Leadership Studies Honors Society recognizes outstanding academic achievement in leadership studies. To be eligible for membership, a student must be a major in the top 10 percent of the class, with a leadership studies GPA of 3.5 or higher and a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.2. Honorees were: Eric D. Loepp, Ashley E. Prime, Leah C. Render and Michael N. Selkirk.

Jepson Student Government Association. The 2007-08 president was Eric D. Van Der Hyde. Other officers were: Leah C. Render, Vice President for Administration/Finance; Xenia Schneider, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Mary E. Gardiner, Vice President for Student Affairs; and Lisa Sinkovitz, Vice President for Public Relations.

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Research and Fellowship

Burrus Fellows were Allison M. DuVal, Mary E. Gardiner, Corrie E. Mixon and Kyle M. Storms. Friends of Robert Burrus created the Robert L. Burrus Jr. Fellowship Program for Developing Leaders to honor the former chairman and senior partner of McGuireWoods LLP, who is also a former rector of the University’s board of trustees. The program began in 2004. Details

The Keck Fellow was Krishna Ramachandran. The Keck Initiative is a collaboration between three universities to integrate topics of responsible leadership across liberal arts disciplines. The Keck fellows grant provides annual support for stipends for undergraduate students to pursue a research project stemming from a Keck course. The first Keck fellowships were awarded to students conducting research during the summer of 2006. Details

United States Naval Academy Leadership Conference. Eric D. Loepp, Daniel S. Welsch and Carson M. Raymond served as student representatives.

Jepson at Cambridge. Ashley Catlett, Joe Chicvak, Lynn LaVecchia, Theo Poulopoulos, Ashley Prime, Michael Selkirk, Ben Tyree and Krista Weisman participated in this annual study-abroad experience.

Jepson Alumni Initiative. During 2007, the Jepson School appointed a group of alumni advisors with the goal of strengthening connections between alumni and students and improving relationships with young alumni. Allison M. DuVal and Eric D. Loepp, have been appointed to serve as the 2008 class representatives to that advisory body.

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Accomplishments, Interests and Activities

Members of Jepson’s 2008 class served in many key campus roles.

• Erica R. Coleman, Allison M. DuVal, William J. Miller, Corrie E. Mixon, Eric D. Van Der Hyde and Andrea M. Willis were Bonner Scholars.
• Daryl I. Agran was a speech consultant at the University of Richmond Speech Center, a tutor at the Richmond Home for Boys and Girls and an Orientation Advisor on campus.
• Douglas S. Banker was a Scholar Student-Athlete.
• Erica R. Coleman co-founded and served as the executive officer of participant affairs on the University's Collegiate Disaster Relief Team. She was also vice president of Delta Gamma sorority.
• Michael A. Connelly served as a research assistant on campus and as a Resident Assistant.
• Allison M. DuVal co-founded and served as an executive officer of the University's Collegiate Disaster Relief Team.
• Kathryn P. Elberson served as a student assistant at the Career Development Center on campus and in various leadership positions as a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority on campus.
• Mary E. Gardiner was a Cleveland and Katherine Kern Merit Scholar, held a Burrus Fellowship, was a member of the JSGA executive board.
• Lauren M. Harris was a member of the Class Cabinet and a member of the JSGA Senate.
• Lynn A. LaVecchia served as the Westhampton College Government Association's Senior Class President. She was also a member of the Spider Debate Team and the UR Equestrian Team.
• Eric D. Loepp served as director of youth programs at the Center for Leadership in Education
• Bethany M. Martin served as an International Orientation advisor and as a panhellenic delegate for Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority on campus.
• William J. Miller served as the Officer of Communications for the UR Accounting Society and as president of Sigman Phi Epsilon fraternity.
• Corrie E. Mixon was a student action team member for Build It community engagement initiative and an executive officer of the University's Collegiate Disaster Relief Team.
• Bridget A. Needham received the Westhampton College Distinguished Leadership Award and served as president of the Westhampton College Government Association. She is also the recipient of the Westhampton College Diamond Award.
• Peter D. Norquist was a member of the National Scholars Honor Society and teh National College Athlete Honor Society.
• Robert J. O'Brien, III was a member of the University of Richmond Honor Council and the Presidential Welcoming Committee. He served as a Teach for America Campus Campaign Manager and as campus president of Habitat for Humanity.
• Ashley E. Prime served as Senator of Academic Affairs in the JSGA and as vice president of recruitment for the National Panehellenic Council.
• Krishna Ramachandran is a member of the National Scholars Honor Society and a Keck Fellow.
• Carson M. Raymond served as a member of Sigma Delta Pi (Hispanic) and as a senator for the Richmond College Student Government Association.
• Lauren E. Reeves served as Westhampton College's New Student Orientation chair.
• Leah C. Render was a member of the JSGA executive board and was the founder, event planner and coordinator for the on-campus "Invisible Children" movement.
• Owen Rojek was selected to be a member of the Japan Exchange and Teaching program, which is run by the government of Japan.
• Kyle M. Storms received the Burrus Fellowship and the Donchian Fellowship.
• Killian M. Tormey was decoration chair of the Westhampton College Class of 2008 and was part of the member development committee for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
• Eric D. Van Der Hyde is a member of Mortar Board, a Bonner Scholar, Class of 1964 Scholarship, the Kevin Christopher Memorial Scholarship, the Cindy and Dennis Pryor Scholarship, the Richard S. Reynolds, Jr. scholarship. He also served as the JSGA president and is co-founder and executive officer for the University's Collegiate Disaster Relief Team.
• Jordan L. Wade is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and received a Westhampton College Distinguished Leadership Award.
• Daniel S. Welsch was a senator for the Richmond College Student Government Association.
• Camille L. Wingo is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Golden Key, Lambda Pi Eta (Rhetoric and Communications Studies).
• Paul M. Conboy served as an accounting assistant at Richard P. Conboy Jr. CPA.
• Stephen G. Horvath served as president of the Richmond College Student Government Association and received the Thomas Branch McAdams Award for Outstanding Service to Richmond College. He served as a resident assistant for four years and taught leadership to ninth grade students at D.S. Freeman High School in Richmond.
• Diane M. Kenaston was a member of Schola Cantorum and a member of the UR Varsity Cross Country team. She received a Woodruff Fellowship to Emory University's Candler School of Theology.
• Jamilah D. LeCruise served as a manager with the UR Office of Student Activities
• Jason C. Levinn won the Richmond Quest IV Contest for the question "What Moves Us?" and is the recipient of the Omicron Delta Kappa Salute for leadership contributions to the campus and the community.
• Norah J. Mallaney served on the events planning subcommittee for Build It community engagement initiative.
• Molly Mesnard served as the vice president of membership for Delta Gamma sorority.
• Erin D. Murdoch is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa.
• Ashley R. O'Keefe is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Golden Key
• Matthew R. Rosenthal founded and served as director of the student leadership program at the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce.
• Brittany A. Vida interned at both GQ Magazine and Teen Vogue.
• Krista S. Weisman was Phi Beta Kappa.
• Andrea M. Willis was a Bonner Scholar and its Congress representative, the recipient of the Westhampton College Distinguished Leadership Award and the Clara Keith Award.
• Andrea M. Wright was a member of the Delta Epsilon Chi business fraternity and she also served as the vice president of membership for Pi Beta Phi sorority.
• Brittany D. Yates was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Rho Iota Greek Christian Fellowship and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also served as the vice president of finance for Pi Beta Phi sorority.

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