President's Award for Excellence

I would like to congratulate the recipients of the first President's Award for Excellence who were honored at a ceremony earlier this month in the Trustee Room in Jackman Hall. This award, which will be given out annually, recognizes students regardless of lifestyle for their comprehensive excellence during the previous academic year. Each nominee has excelled in academics with a 3.5 or better cumulatively for last academic year; in fitness as evidenced by the award of a varsity letter, an exceptional PT test performance, or an exceptional evaluation in a comprehensive physical assessment as certified by a fitness coach; in citizenship as evidenced by no honor or major disciplinary issues; and in service and/or leadership as demonstrated by participating in various activities at the university.   

A selection panel comprised of representatives from athletics, the commandant's staff, the Dean of Students' staff and the faculty, along with the vice president for student affairs, reviewed the eligible candidates and made recommendations to me for approval.

This was the first year that these awards were given out, and we had a wonderful group of juniors and seniors for consideration.

The students receiving the honor were juniors Joshua Brunton and Zachariah Wetzel, and seniors Megan Gingras, Nicki Hunsicker, Molly Rice, George Sawyer, Charles Stiles, Gilbert Summers and Natalia Zajac. These young men and women exemplify Alden Partridge's vision of well-rounded individuals ready for "those high responsibilities resting upon a citizen of this free republic." I commend each of the students for excelling in multiple areas at Norwich.

This summer, while you are enjoying a well-deserved break from your studies, construction crews will be hard at work making several improvements to the Norwich campus.

The Facilities Operations annual operating budget contains an allocation of $2.2 million for planned capital projects. The project list for FY '12 was approved by the Trustees Facilities Planning Committee in January. The largest FY' 12 capital project is the renovation of Wilson Hall, which is part of our on-going dormitory upgrade program. The renovation of Wilson will be of the same level of quality as Gerard Hall and it will include the following:

            ● Expansion and renovation of bathrooms

            ● Creation of a lounge

            ● Installation of wainscoting

            ● Repair and painting of all interior surfaces

            ● Upgrade of stairwells to code

            ● Upgrade of building heating controls

         ● Replacement of: all flooring, ceiling tiles, entrance lobby, exterior entrance stairs and hallway lighting

The total cost of the Wilson project is estimated at $1,450,000. Work will begin on the barracks the day after commencement, and will be finished by Aug. 1, in time for your return for the fall semester.

This summer renovations will also be done in the wrestling room. As part of this project, new lockers will be added and new flooring of the same quality as those done in the Andrew's locker rooms last summer. These renovations will also be completed in time for the fall semester.

This will be your final issue of the Guidon this year. Final exams, commissioning, and commencement are not far off. Stay on task and make academics your top priority.