State Sen. Tommy Norment (R-3rd) has been named the recipient of the College of William and Mary’s 2007 Prentis Award. College President Gene R. Nichol presented the award at a reception honoring Norment May 16.

“Our College—like our community and our Commonwealth—is beyond fortunate to have Tommy Norment in our corner,” said Nichol. “William and Mary couldn't ask for a more devoted advocate in Richmond. I’m proud to honor his friendship and service with the Prentis Award.”

Prentis Awards are given annually to community members whose civic involvement benefits the community and the College. The award is named in honor of the Williamsburg family whose 18th-century shop on Duke of Gloucester Street was a hub of colonial life. Members of the Prentis family have been friends of the College and the community since 1720, when the store was first established in Williamsburg.

As the state senator representing Williamsburg, James City County, York County, New Kent County, Gloucester County and parts of Newport News, Norment has long been a tireless advocate for William and Mary. Recently, Norment’s support for a new William and Mary School of Education building led to the General Assembly’s approval of $5.4 million for the project to move forward with planning and design. Norment has also been actively involved in the Williamsburg community. He serves as an honorary trustee of the Williamsburg Land Conservancy and a trustee of the Williamsburg Land Partnership in Educational Excellence. As co-chair of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Norment has been a leader in planning the Jamestown 2007 activities.

Born in Richmond, Va., Norment received his undergraduate degree from the Virginia Military Institute and his law degree from the William and Mary Law School. He served on the James City County Board of Supervisors from 1987 to 1991 and was first elected to the Virginia Senate in 1991. Currently, he serves as the Senate Majority Floor Leader and is the chair of the Senate Committee on Rules. He is also a member of the Senate committees for Courts of Justice, Finance, and Commerce and Labor, as well as the Joint Rules Committee. He is also chair of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and a member of the Virginia State Crime Commission. In addition to his duties as senator, Norment is a partner with the Williamsburg law firm of Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.