The biology department was well represented at the College’s 2015 Final Convocation ceremony, held each April to honor the achievements of members of the Hampden-Sydney community over the past year.  The Biology Department gives two awards at this event.  The first, the R.T. Hewitt Biology Award, is given to the graduating senior who has distinguished himself in his work in the classroom and the laboratory over his 4 years at the College.  This year’s recipient, Davis Carter ’15, has worked extensively with Professor Rachel Goodman over the past two years on research in virology and herpetology and is beginning a research position at the University of Tennessee this summer as the first step towards a career in ecology research.

Davis Carter receives the Hewett Award from Biology Chair Alex Werth

Next, the department presented the Overcash Award, a prize awarded to the top junior in the department who is planning a career in the health sciences.  This year’s recipient, Travis Goodloe ’16, will undertake research this summer with Professor Kristian Hargadon and will be the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Hampden-Sydney Journal of the Sciences in the 2015-16 academic year.

Travis Goodloe ’16 receives the Overcash Award from Professor Werth

In addition to the Biology Department awards, James Lau ’17 and Brant Boucher ’17, double majors in Biology and Chemistry, were given the Sophomore Academic Excellence Award for carrying the highest GPAs in the sophomore class.

James Lau ’17 receives the Sophomore Academic Excellence Award from Associate Dean for Academic Success Christa Fye

Brant Boucher ’17 receiving the Sophomore Academic Excellence Award from Dean Fye

Finally, Professor William Shear celebrated his retirement at the end of the academic year by receiving the John Peter Mettauer Award for Research Excellence for the fourth time in his 41-year Hampden-Sydney career.  Professor Shear has authored 205 papers on a variety of topics including insect taxonomy and evolution and ranks among the most prolific researchers in the 240 year history of the College.

Professor Shear addresses the crowd after receiving the Mettauer Award