As part of the beginning of the academic year, Hampden-Sydney holds an convocation ceremony attended by the entire campus community.  At this year’s ceremony, the College honored three biology students as academic leaders in the Hampden-Sydney community.

First, Aaron Gilani ’15, a dual biology and psychology major, was given the President’s Award for Scholarship and Character, an award “…presented to a junior who has excelled in the classroom at Hampden-Sydney and who also demonstrates the quality of character that enriches the life of the campus community.”

Hampden-Sydney President Chris Howard and Aaron Gilani ’15 at the Convocation ceremony

Meade Edmunds ’14 was then presented with the President’s Award for Academic Excellence in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics, given to the senior with the highest GPA in a major within the division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

President Howard and Meade Edmunds ’14

Finally, the President’s Award for Overall Academic Excellence, presented to the senior with the highest overall GPA, was given to James Hughes ’14.

President Howard and James Hughes ’14

Hampden-Sydney’s summer research students presented their work in a public poster session as part of the College’s “C-Day” activities.  The session gave the students the opportunity to present their research to professors, fellow students, and other members of the Hampden-Sydney community.  The Biology Department was pleased to be represented by 11 students presenting ranging from ecology and organismal biology to genetics and molecular biology.

Giovanni Torres ’14 (center)

David Coe ’14 (right)

Alan Fish ’14

Erik Kellogg ’15

Francis Polakiewicz ’14 and Brandon Fox ’14

Davis Carter ’15

Sean Kellogg ’15

Christian Lehman ’14

Drake Bishop ’14

James Hughes ’14