Government Celebrates the Class of 2019
The rain that fell on the William & Mary during Commencement weekend dampened the campus grounds, but
in no way watered down the excitement of this new beginning for Government’s Class of 2019. As the clock struck eleven o’clock in Kaplan Arena, the site of the Department’s diploma ceremony this year, Professor Paul Manna, chair of Government, united students, faculty, family, and friends with his opening remarks. Manna offered many thanks to those who make Government so special: our faculty, our staff, our alumni and other supporters, family and friends of our graduates, and also our students themselves, who Government faculty agree are second to none.
We celebrated another special Mother’s Day as 160 graduates processed to receive their diplomas on the arena stage. Professor Marcus Holmes, also known as “The Voice,” returned this year to announce the names of graduating seniors. The Department also honored these individual graduates who had received awards for their outstanding accomplishments. All of these honors were made possible by the generous gifts of alumni and other friends of Government.
Alexander Bulova and Tyler Senio were recipients of McGlennon Scholarships, which allowed them to enhance their learning experiences
during their final two years at William & Mary. Tyler used his scholarship to explore his dual interests in public policy and environmental policy, while Alexander’s work combined his interests in trade policy and public opinion. Alexander also earned an additional accolade. He was the first recipient of the Grayson Scholarship in Government for writing the best paper in an advanced Government seminar.
We also recognized Peter Makey, who held the Tuttle Scholarship during his final two years of study. The award is given to an outstanding student for whom the funding will make a significant difference in their pursuit of their degree. Peter’s high level of performance in the classroom and in athletics, as a member of the Tribe Men’s Gymnastics Team, also earned him a Provost Award this past spring, which honors student athletes with the most outstanding academic records.
John Teague and Lindsay Washington, an International Relations graduate, 
were this year’s recipients of the Koenig-Nimmo Foreign Service Award, which goes to students who possess an aptitude for a career in United States Foreign Service. Both John and Lindsay have interests in international security, so we wondered aloud at the diploma ceremony whether they both might find each other sharing an office some day at the U.S. Department of State. 
Ammon Frederick Harteis won this year’s W. Warner Moss Prize, which goes to the student who completes the most outstanding Government honors thesis. Ammon’s honors thesis was a fascinating study of colonialism and military affairs in India, entitled “Who Does The Dying?: 'Martial Races' and War Time Unit Deployment in the Indian Army.”
Daniel Herrera was this year’s recipient of the William & Mary Alumni 
Association Government Prize. This award is given by the William & Mary Alumni Association, upon recommendation from Department, to recognize an outstanding Government major. For his ability to perform at the highest levels academically across his time at William & Mary and for capping off that work by defending an outstanding honors thesis, we were so proud to honor Daniel with this prize.
Last but certainly not least, the Department was excited to honor Meredith Caine as this year’s winner of the Megan Owen Award. This award recognizes an outstanding woman Government major who is from Virginia. In addition to her outstanding work in Government, at William & Mary, Meredith was recognized by her fellow students as a campus leader, serving on the Student Assembly and as an Undersecretary of Queer and Trans Affairs while also doing substantial advising and mentoring of scores of her fellow students via in her work in many offices across campus.
Overall, the Class of 2019 was a truly outstanding group. Our faculty and staff will miss them all, but we welcome them back anytime for a visit! With any luck, we’ll be able to catch up again at this fall’s Homecoming Weekend, set for October 17-20. Until then, we wish our graduates nothing but the very best as they move onto their next adventures.
