June 17, 2025

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

UMW Awards Faculty for Leadership and Impact, Grants Administrator Emeritus Honor

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The spring semester blooms with tributes at UMW, from the annual Eagle Awards and honor society inductions to recognizing retiring colleagues and honoring standout faculty. At its end-of-semester meeting, the University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors approved graduates, granted emeritus status to a retiring administrator, and celebrated excellence among the staff and faculty, including presenting the Faculty Leadership Award. Separately, at UMW’s commencement ceremony, students honored a faculty member with the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award for exceptional impact.

Faculty Leadership Award – Grant Woodwell

Having joined the faculty in 1986, Professor of Geology and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Grant Woodwell has a nearly 40-year tenure at Mary Washington. Following undergraduate work at Columbia University and graduate work at Yale University, he quickly built a remarkable record of scholarship and service while teaching courses in geology, mineralogy, plate tectonics, GIS applications and a very popular first-year seminar. Woodwell now adds the Faculty Leadership Award to his many honors. Read more.

Mary W. Pinschmidt Award – Ian Finlayson

This year’s graduates awarded Associate Professor of Computer Science Ian Finlayson the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award for having had the greatest impact on the lives of the Class of 2025. Widely regarded as one of the most approachable professors at UMW, Finlayson is known for his deep commitment to supporting students, both academically and personally. One nominator wrote, “He’s kind and helpful to students seeking advice and assistance and makes sure that students understand the very complex ideas presented in class.” Read more.

Administrator Emeritus – Jan Clarke

UMW considers faculty who have attained the rank of professor or associate professor, and administrators who have served the University of Mary Washington for at least 15 years, eligible for emeritus status, which is bestowed by the Board of Visitors. The 2025 administrator emeritus is Assistant Vice President of Gift Planning Jan Clarke. Read more.

Brilliant Skies, Bright Future: UMW Celebrates Class of 2025

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Graduates walk through campus on their way to Ball Circle for this year’s commencement ceremony, including Martina Nicholson who’s wearing the “feet” of the school’s Sammy D. Eagle mascot. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Graduates walk through campus on their way to Ball Circle for this year’s commencement ceremony, including Martina Nicholson who’s wearing the “feet” of the school’s Sammy D. Eagle mascot. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

A bird’s eye view of the University of Mary Washington’s Ball Circle revealed a sea of blue on Saturday morning. Mortarboards, decked out with photos and flowers, ribbons and paint, signified the personalities, experiences and aspirations of the members of the Class of 2025.

Campus filled with the excitement of more than 900 graduates, along with their family and friends, gathered in the thousands to watch the ceremony, which was also livestreamed. Not a single cloud dotted the sky, providing the perfect backdrop for the streamers and confetti that arced over the grads at the end of the ceremony.

Kayla Workman of Beaverdam, Virginia, described the day as bittersweet. A historic preservation major who works as an editorial assistant for the Marine Corps Association at Quantico, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in library information sciences at the University of Alabama. The Hobbit quote she’d added to her cap said it all: “I think I’m quite ready for the adventure.”

Business administration majors Cody Faust, whose family hails from Ukraine, and Ian O’Hare of Stafford helped adjust each other’s regalia before taking their places on Jefferson Square. “Time flew by really fast,” said O’Hare, who plans to enter the Air Force. “The next thing you know, I’m getting ready to cross the stage with all of my friends.” Read more.

Seven UMW Graduates Earn Perfect 4.0 GPAs

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As the Class of 2025 graduates crossed the stage at the University of Mary Washington’s Commencement to the applause of faculty, staff, family and friends, seven students received top-of-class honors.

Graduates Bonnie Butler, Kathleen Conner, Thomas Held, Austin Moore, Jessica Oberlies, Kelsey Payne and Maria Werner earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for completing their degrees with the highest grade-point average in the undergraduate program. All seven – the greatest number of grads earning this achievement in recent history – finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA, graduating summa cum laude, the highest academic distinction, and earning additional honors through their programs. Read their stories!

UMW Graduates (from L) Kelsey Payne, Maria Werner, Bonnie Butler, Jessica Oberlies, Thomas Held, Kathleen Conner and Austin Moore earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for completing their degrees with the highest grade-point average in the undergraduate program. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW Graduates (from L) Kelsey Payne, Maria Werner, Bonnie Butler, Jessica Oberlies, Thomas Held, Kathleen Conner and Austin Moore earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for Academic Achievement for completing their degrees with the highest grade-point average in the undergraduate program. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi. Click the photo to read their stories!

 

UMW Class of 2025 Senior Spotlights

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As the Class of 2025 prepared to soar from University of Mary Washington, we turned the spotlight on graduating seniors. These Eagles have spent their college years finding what matters most, rising to challenges and lighting the way for others. Before they take flight, meet some of UMW’s seniors whose stories reflect the spirit of our campus community. Read their stories.

Click to read their stories!

Click to read their stories!