SPCS Night
2026 Awards Ceremony
SPCS students, staff and faculty and a guest, along with University partners and dignitaries, are invited to attend the SPCS Night awards ceremony.
- Location: Jepson Theatre, Modlin Center for the Arts
- Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
- Time: 6-9 p.m.
- By invitation: RSVP using invitation email
Commencement Awards
- Richard W. Leatherman, Sr., and Ida Mae Leatherman Macebearer: Daria Sergeyevna Kosova
- U.S. Flag Bearer: William Smith Blake
- University of Richmond Flag Bearer: Hannah Snesil
- SPCS Banner Bearer: Stacy Pearman
- Student Speaker: Meg Baly
- Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni: Tavorise K. Marks, C’18
- Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty: Jennifer Smith-Slabaugh
Academic Book Awards
Education
- James W. Lanham Award for Excellence in Curriculum and Instruction: Clara Swartz
- Catherine S. Fisher Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership: Gil Carter and Karen E. Richardson
Human Resource Management
- Steve Neal Book Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement: Traci Spencer
- Steve Neal Book Award for Outstanding Graduate Achievement: Chase Monroe and Alice Persons
Information Systems
- Christopher and Swartz Memorial Book Award: Samantha Eastlack
- McDonald Davis Jr. Book Award: Trevor Tilley
Liberal Arts
- Daniel McDonald Roberts and Frances Taylor Roberts Master of Liberal Arts Memorial Book Award: Nicki Pugh
Nonprofit Studies
- Louis J. Narduzzi Memorial Book Award: Emily Kyser and Zelda Hinkle
Paralegal Studies
- William R. Marshall Jr. Memorial Book Award: Grace Riley and Riley Brown
Master of Teaching
- Samuel E. Perry, Jr. and Nancy B. Perry Book Award (grades K-6): Kristen Oliver
- Ann C. Taylor Book Award (grades 7-12): Rachel Matthews, ‘24
Additional Awards and Honors
- Jean H. Proffitt Student Service Award: Natasha Sturrock
- Taylor Kie Cousins Award for Service to the University Community: Katherine Blaire Mansfield
- Colonel (U.S.A., Ret.) Porcher L. Taylor, Jr., Ph.D. Book Award for Community Leadership: James Katsaros and Frank Lott
- Joanita Bbaale Senoga Book Award in Recognition of Academic Excellence by a Student Whose Native Language is not English: Nyreng Dut
- Nonprofit Studies Graduates with Distinction: Zelda Hinkle and Emily Kyser
- Graduate Education Capstone Projects — Passed with Distinction: Nick Bergheimer, Lily Bermejo, Frankie Lynn Conklin, Sheralyn Potter, Karen E. Richardson, Betsy Stewart, Natasha Sturrock, Clara Swartz, Candace Weather and Emma Wolfe
If you'd like to learn more about these awards, review our Commencement Participants, Alumni Award, Faculty Awards, Student Awards and Academic Book Awards pages.
Follow SPCS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for special recognitions of these award recipients.


