Outstanding members of W&M community honored at Commencement

Excellence

Graduates and members of the William & Mary community were recognized at the 2026 commencement with awards for their dedication to the university and its values.

Several awards are presented annually to graduates, staff and faculty members during the William & Mary Commencement ceremony. Below is a list of the awards that were presented during this year's ceremony on May 15. - Ed.

• The Lord Botetourt Medal
• James Frederic Carr Memorial Cup
• Sullivan Awards
• Graves Award
• Thatcher Prize for Excellence

Lord Botetourt Medal

The Lord Botetourt Medal is awarded to undergraduate students on the basis of distinguished scholarship throughout their entire William & Mary career. This year's recipient, Alexander M. Holland '26, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience with an honors thesis in chemistry. Additionally, he achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA.

As he began his education at the university, Holland was central to analyzing nearly 2,000 articles from a women's health magazine. A laboratory assistant in the Eating Behavior and Development Lab, he is lauded by advisors and nominators for his willingness to engage with topics with curiosity and determination. According to his nominators, once he builds an understanding of his work, he crafts his research claims with evidence, making difficult subjects digestible but not oversimplistic.

Garrett-Robb-Guy Professor of Chemistry Jonathan Scheerer highlighted Holland's work on a Blatter-type radical, an organic species with potential in crafting organic batteries. Scheerer said Holland is "focused and engaged in his experiments, keen on planning next steps and communicative about his thought process and analysis." Through the strength of his honors thesis, Scheerer anticipates Holland can earn a single author publication in a research journal.

Holland has presented at the National Organic Symposium on a competitive fellowship and has accepted a position in the chemical & medicinal chemistry doctoral program at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Carr Memorial Cup

James Frederic Carr Memorial Cup recipients exemplify the values of character, scholarship and leadership. Allison N. Robinson-Wilson '26 has earned the cup this year in honor of her courage and generosity throughout a variety of roles at William & Mary.

A double major in English and government, Robinson-Wilson served as a fellow for W&M Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE), a counselor for Preparing for Life as a University Student, president of the Minority Pre-Law Association and as campus tour guide.

In addition to those leadership roles, Robinson-Wilson took initiative in her day-to-day life on campus. According to her nominators for the award, she mentored students new to university-level coursework, created welcoming spaces for women of color on campus as a Brown Table Talk facilitator and helped with the Minority Pre-Law Association. She also advanced inclusivity as a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Additionally, Robinson-Wilson founded the WMSURE Oral History Project, recording the program's history supporting first-generation and low-income students. The recordings have been added to the Special Collections Research Center at Swem Library.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards

The Sullivan Awards recognize goodness, taking into consideration such characteristics of heart, mind, conduct and a spirit of love and helpfulness to others. They are awarded each year to two individuals from the graduating student body and to a third person who has a close relationship to the university.

The student recipients of this year's awards are Grace G. Bellamy '26 and Peerawut Ruangsawasdi '26. The Rev. Jeffrey Buffkin P '17, P '19, who leads William & Mary's Baptist Collegiate Ministry, also received a Sullivan Award.

Each winner receives a commemorative medallion.

Grace G. Bellamy '26

Bellamy, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, hopes to go into pediatric dentistry. She already knows her way around healthcare.

Even before she enrolled at William & Mary, she had been volunteering with the Virginia Health Occupations Student Association, rising to the position of state president. Through her service, she supported thousands of students - organizing conferences, creating training opportunities and leading initiatives that impacted its more than 5,000 members. While an undergraduate, she volunteered in the intensive care unit at Sentara Regional Hospital and mentored other students in public health programs.

Most notably, say her colleagues and fellow students, she does all of this with a consistent spirit "of love and helpfulness to others." It's not just what she does, but how she does it - "with kindness, attentiveness and genuine care that transforms every space she is a part of," wrote one nominator.

Another nominator familiar with Bellamy's work shared that she "ensures that every life she touches knows how valuable they are."

Peerawut Ruangsawasdi '26

Ruangsawasdi graduated as part of W&M's accelerated Master of Public Policy program, a Dean's List student and a member of the highly selective Global Research Institute's Global Scholars Program. Colleagues praise his exceptional dedication. He leads with a "clear sense of purpose, quiet humility and consistent focus on the greater good," wrote one nominator.

Beyond the classroom, he has demonstrated his dedication to public service as a communications intern with the United States Senate by reporting on world issues for "Diplomatica Global." He also served in many roles for W&M's student newspaper, The Flat Hat, including chief of staff.

"Peerawut does not work for himself," wrote a nominator. "He works for William & Mary."

In roles with the Office of the Provost, University Advancement and Student Assembly, Ruangsawasdi helped shape institutional priorities, advocate for student needs and impact the future of academic programs. On the Undergraduate Honor Council, he upheld university values of integrity and accountability.

"What distinguishes Peerawut most is his character," said a nominator. "Across his many roles, he approaches his work with integrity and consistently prioritizes the collective good over personal recognition."

The Rev. Jeffrey Buffkin P '17, P '19

As campus minister for Baptist Collegiate Ministry at William & Mary, Buffkin "exemplifies the very heart of the Sullivan award: a life lived in love, service and tireless generosity to others," wrote one nominator.

Praised for his warmth and hospitality, Buffkin has been a cherished member of the William & Mary community for nearly two decades. In addition to directing all Baptist ministries at the university, Buffkin hosts weekly dinners, holiday gatherings and provides, according to one nominator, "countless quiet moments of kindness and encouragement."

For students in need, Buffkin will arrange for donated furniture and other necessities. An international student expressed gratitude for Buffin's guidance on navigating American life, from buying a car to interpreting cultural values. They shared, "Because of Rev. Buffkin's mentorship, I adapted to life in the U.S. not with fear or isolation, but with courage, confidence and community."

Buffkin lives out the values of the Sullivan Award, said his nominators. His humor, empathy and resilience mean that all who meet him know that "at William & Mary, you belong."

Thatcher Prize for Excellence

The Thatcher Prize was created in honor of the 21st chancellor of William & Mary, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Presented annually, the award recognizes an outstanding student in graduate or professional study, with recipients selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership, character and service. The recipient of the 2026 Thatcher Prize is Yi-Yun "Minnie" Tsai Ph.D. '26.

Tsai studied counselor education in W&M's School of Education, successfully defending her dissertation in March. Her research focused on the use of a tabletop role-playing game in group counseling for elementary students who experienced bullying.

Tsai was celebrated by her nominators for her commitment to intellectual growth, research and scholarly contributions. She co-authored an article with Clinical Associate Professor Stickl Haugen on student safety in today's digital environment for the American School Counselor Association Magazine. She has also presented as first author at seven conferences and produced multiple manuscripts tackling the topic of school counselor wellbeing.

She has held a number of leadership roles oriented toward mentorship and supporting emerging leaders and has served in numerous professional associations. At William & Mary, Tsai served as vice chair of the Honor Council and as a student ambassador for the W&M School of Education. In addition, Tsai served as an international peer leader for the Reves Center and as a mentor for first-year Ph.D. students. In 2025, she was awarded the Reves Center International Student Achievement Award.

"Two of the most impressive qualities about Minnie," wrote another nominator, "are her humility and curiosity; to me, these qualities propel her academic excellence."

Graves Award

The Thomas Ashley Graves, Jr. Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching is presented annually to a William & Mary professor who displays a strong commitment to the education of students and service to William & Mary. The award is named after Thomas Ashley Graves, Jr., the 23rd president of William & Mary. This year's recipient is Adam Potkay, William R. Kenan Professor of Humanities.

Potkay has exemplified excellence in teaching at William & Mary for more than three decades, shaping generations of students through transformative engagement with literature, philosophy and the enduring questions of human experience.

While Potkay is a specialist in 18th-century British literature and Romanticism, he teaches across the full literary tradition with courses such as The Bible and Literature, Enlightenment and Sensibility, Romanticism and Revolution, and The World Novel. Students consistently describe his teaching as intellectually demanding and profoundly inspiring.

He is strongly committed to the growth of his students, and his mentorship extends beyond the classroom. He advises honors theses across disciplines, supports students in competitive fellowships and publications and cultivates a devoted community of learners. His influence is evident in the exceptional achievements of his students, including undergraduate publications in leading scholarly journals.

In addition to being an excellent teacher, he is an accomplished scholar. Potkay is an internationally recognized author of award-winning books and numerous articles, and he brings cutting-edge research into the classroom while also reaching global audiences through public scholarship.

He has also served the university in myriad capacities, including department chair, director of honors and mentor to junior faculty.

Staff, University News & Media

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