Alumni Reunion

               Courtenay Dobbins                            Charniele Herring

At this year's Alumni Reunion we continued the new tradition of inviting some of our most recent graduates to reflect on their experiences at Sorensen. This year's speakers included Courtenay Dobbins of the High School Leaders Program Class of 2007 and Charniele Herring of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006.

Saturday evening, October 6, the Sorensen Institute hosted its 2007 Alumni Reunion. Over two hundred alumni gathered at the Richmond Marriott to celebrate the continued achievements of Sorensen in the Commonwealth.

As is tradition, a number of alumni awards were handed out this year. This slideshow showcases all five alumni awards from this year's reunion. The Sorensen Institute's Coy Barefoot moderated the awards ceremony. Enjoy!

Don't forget! Mark your calendars!

And please get in touch with Amber Capron now to reserve your seat.

The Sorensen Institute is also accepting nominations for the two individual awards which will be presented at the Alumni Reunion:

The Expression of Ideals Award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has, in the year since the last alumni reunion, best represented the ideals at the heart of the Sorensen mission: a spirit of ethics, bipartisanship, and civic engagement.

The Service to Sorensen Award recognizes a graduate who has most given of his or her time, talents, and efforts in supporting the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in the year since the last alumni reunion.

Please submit your nominations by email to Coy Barefoot.

The Sorensen Institute is also accepting nominations for the two individual awards which will be presented at the Alumni Reunion:

The Expression of Ideals Award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has, in the year since the last alumni reunion, best represented the ideals at the heart of the Sorensen mission: a spirit of ethics, bipartisanship, and civic engagement.

The Service to Sorensen Award recognizes a graduate who has most given of his or her time, talents, and efforts in supporting the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in the year since the last alumni reunion.

Please submit your nominations by email to Coy Barefoot.

Vickie Williams (PLP 2005)

Sean O'Brien, Executive Director

Delegate John Cosgrove, State Board member and alumnus (PLP 1998)

Marc Johnson, Director of Youth Programs and alumnus (CLP 2003)

Andrew Almand (CLP 2006)

Carolyn Lincoln (PLP 2001, CTP 2002)
                        

Tim Heaphy (PLP 2005)

A total of five awards were presented at the Sorensen Institute's 2006 Alumni Reunion on Saturday, October 14. The event was held at in the Grand Ballroom at the Jefferson Hotel. The awards were presented by Director of Alumni Relations, Coy Barefoot (other podcasts from the Reunion will be posted to this blog shortly).

The Most Enthusiastic Class Award--which recognizes the alumni class with the highest percentage turnout at the reunion--was given to both the High School Leaders Program Class of 2006 and the Political Leaders Program Class of 2005. The awards were accepted by HSLP 06 Class Chair Ellen Marsteller and PLP 05 Class Chair Cathie France.

Ellen Marsteller

Cathie France

The Most Generous Class Award--which recognizes the alumni class in which the greatest percentage of its members have given a personal donation to the Sorensen Institute during the past year--was presented to the Political Leaders Program Class of 2005. Class Chair Cathie France accepted the award.

PLP Class of 2005

The Most Philanthropic Class Award--which recognizes the alumni class that has generated, both personally and professionally, the greatest financial support for Sorensen during the last year--was given to the Political Leaders Program Class of 2001. Virginia Delegate, Sorensen State Board member, and class member Jennifer McClellan accepted the award.

Jennifer McClellan

The First Annual Service to Sorensen Award recognizes a graduate who has most given of his or her time, talents, and efforts in supporting the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in the year since the last alumni reunion. This first-ever honor was awarded to Craig T. Fifer, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2003.

Craig Fifer

The First Annual Expression of Ideals Award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has, in the year since the last alumni reunion, best represented the ideals at the heart of the Sorensen mission: a spirit of ethics, bipartisanship, and civic engagement. This first-ever award was presented to the Secretary of Virginia's State Board of Elections, Jean Jensen (Political Leaders Program Class of 1996).

Jean Jensen