Morris receives award for service

Service award Will Morris (second from the left) received the student award for his work with Rites of Passage at Toano Middle School. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

by Isshin Teshima '11 | September 1, 2010

Not many college students can ever say that they've had a major impact in the local community around which their college resides, but College of William and Mary senior Will Morris is one of the few that can.

As the student recipient of the 2010 President's Award for Community Service, Morris's priceless contributions to several mentoring programs and unwavering commitment to bettering the lives of others were highlighted during last Friday's Opening Convocation ceremony.

The President's Award for Community Service, sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of Community Engagement and Scholarship (OCES), is awarded annually to one student and faculty/staff member who has "demonstrated a sustained commitment to service" throughout their time at William and Mary.

The award also carries a prize of $500 to be donated in the recipient's name to a community service organization of the recipient's choice.

College President Taylor Reveley, who presented the awards during the ceremony, said that hearing of instances such as one at Berkeley Middle School where Morris brought bags of his own clothes for the benefit of the kids there, made him feel that Morris was the right choice for the award.

"Will, you define service as, a way of life, a habit and above all, an extremely rewarding endeavor," said Reveley. "Those who work with you on Rites of Passage and Distinguished Gentlemen Mentoring attest to your passion to improve the lives of other people."

This year's faculty recipient of the award was Karen Schwartz, research specialist with the College's Office of Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness.