May 11, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Nick Massella
202-994-3087; massella@gwu.edu

GW FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENT AWARDS TO BE GIVEN DURING COMMENCEMENT ON THE NATIONAL MALL
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009

WASHINGTON - During The George Washington University's Commencement on the National Mall recipients of the 2009 George Washington Awards, Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prizes and Manatt-Trachtenberg Prize will be recognized. Below are descriptions of each award and information about this year's recipients.

George Washington Awards

The George Washington University has announced the recipients of the 33rd annual George Washington Awards, given each year to individuals within the University community who have made exceptional contributions and have provided dedicated service to GW. The GW Awards provide special recognition to members of the University community whose accomplishments have had a broad impact and whose service has been above and beyond that which is usual or expected. Awards are given annually since 1976 to recipients and have included GW administrators, faculty, staff and students.

This year's recipients are David Alan Grier, associate dean for academic affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs; Joshua E. Lasky, presidential administrative fellow; Timothy M. Miller, executive director of student activities; and Christian Washington, Multicultural Student Services Center program coordinator.

Throughout his years at GW, Dr. Grier has served on innumerable University committees and as the advisor for a variety of student groups, ranging from performing arts to engineering organizations.  His commitment to GW is further demonstrated in the relationships he develops with his students and their families, both while they are enrolled and after graduation. Dr. Grier joined GW in 1986 as assistant professor in the department of statistics. He has since held several faculty and administrative positions, including assistant dean for student affairs in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and director of the University Honors Program. Dr. Grier has also been a member of the faculty for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Elliott School of International Affairs. He is currently the associate dean for academic affairs in the Elliott School of International Affairs as well as an associate professor of international science and technology policy and of international affairs.

Mr. Lasky received a bachelor of arts degree in political science with a minor in geography in 2007 and will receive a Master of Public Administration degree in May 2009, both from The George Washington University. During his undergraduate career he was a member of the Colonial Cabinet, Beta Theta Pi fraternity, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, a community facilitator and house staff member, a deans' intern, and the Executive Vice President of the Student Association. As a Presidential Administrative Fellow in the Office of Government, International and Community Relations, Mr. Lasky helped plan the 5th Annual Foggy Bottom West End Neighborhood Block Party, which brought together thousands of community members and over 100 vendors. This past year, he served as the Presidential Administrative Fellow for the newly formed Office of Sustainability and was its first staff member. Lasky has worked to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on Sustainability on which he also served. Most recently, Lasky secured a $10,000 grant to reduce water bottle waste and increase tap water consumption in GW residence hall rooms. In May 2005, Lasky was named the Community Facilitator of the Year and also is a 2007 GW Wall of Fame Honoree.

Mr. Miller has served at GW for seven years and is currently the executive director of the Student Activities Center and an adjunct professor in the Department of Exercise Science. Miller previously was the associate director of the Student Activities Center and director of the Office of Community Service. Miller's service, leadership and developmental skills enable him to form strong bonds with students. He works passionately to help them realize their potential and grow during their time at GW. Under his leadership, the Student Activities Center has developed new initiatives in unique areas of Washington, D.C. Mr. Miller also expanded the outdoor education activities offered to students and staff through the establishment of the SUMMIT Challenge Course on the Mount Vernon Campus. Earlier this year, he received a Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Medal for Distinguished Service.

Mr. Washington is a GW alumnus, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in political science with a minor in English in 2006. This month, he will also earn his Juris Doctorate from the University. As an undergradate, Washington served as chief administrative officer and chief of staff in the Student Association, was co-founder of the Washington Williams House Living and Learning Community and helped establish and served as president of Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization. He also was the president of the Black Law Students' Association during his second year of law school. Currently, Mr. Washington is a program coordinator for the Multicultural Student Services Center. Michael Tapscott, director of the Multicultural Student Services Center referred to Mr. Washington as "...the most effective graduate student staff catalyst for change during the past five and a half years." Christian is a 2007 GW Wall of Fame Honoree and most recently received the 2009 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Medal for Distinguished Service.

GW Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prizes

The George Washington University has announced the recipients of the 2009 Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prizes given to recognize faculty accomplishments. Joseph E. Bonin, professor of mathematics, will receive the prize in teaching. Dr. Peter Hotez, chair of the department of microbiology and professor of microbiology and tropical medicine, will be recognized with the prize in scholarship. Kurt J. Darr, professor of hospital administration, will receive the prize for University service. Each recipient will be presented with a $1,000 cash prize and a plaque during the University's Commencement on the National Mall.

Dr. Bonin is being honored for exemplifying teaching excellence at GW. His research focuses on combinatorics and also includes matroid theory, Dowling lattices, extremal problems, Tutte polynomials, matroid constructions, cyclic flats and transversal matroids. Bonin has excelled as an academic mentor at GW providing support, guidance and advice to many students. Evaluations praise his organization, clarity, enthusiasm, patience, helpfulness and vigor. Students comment that although challenging, his enthusiasm and dedication in class is paramount to their understanding of the material. Bonin is currently supervising his fourth Ph.D. student and has supervised three undergraduate honors theses. He earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from Dartmouth College and is presently serving as graduate program chair and deputy department chair of the mathematics department.

Dr. Hotez is being recognized for advancing scholarship efforts at the University. Hotez has compiled an impressive record of activity that involves both laboratory research and the translation of research into a global effort to develop and test vaccines and improve the lives of all by preventing the neglected diseases that plague many living in developing countries. Mark Batshaw of Children's Hospital, said Dr. Hotez has, "elucidated the molecular pathogenesis of pediatric hookworm infection, identified potential vaccine targets and discovered the major protective antigens." He has founded the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative and co-founded the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases and attracted both substantial Gates Foundation funding and substantial media attention to his efforts.

Dr. Darr is being honored for demonstrating extraordinary service to the University. He has been a full-time member of the faculty since 1973 in the Department of Health Services Management and Leadership and has served as the dean of the M.A. programs in the School of Business. He has served on numerous departmental committees, including the curriculum and personal committees. Dr. Darr was elected to the Medical Center Faculty Senate and to the University Faculty Senate, of which he chaired the Committee on Financial Aid and Enrollment Management and was a member of the Committee on Professional Ethics and Academic Freedmon.

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, President Emeritus and University Professor of Public Service, established and endowed these awards in memory of his parents with the primary goal of recognizing GW faculty members for excellence in scholarship, university service and teaching.

GW Manatt-Trachtenberg Prize

Christopher Diaz, a GW senior pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice, will receive the 2009 George Washington University Manatt-Trachtenberg Prize. The prize is given to graduates who have engaged the social and intellectual conscience of the University, while displaying leadership, integrity and goodwill in carrying out University responsibilities.

Diaz served as a 2008 member of Colonial Cabinet, a house scholar for GW Housing Programs, a peer leadership mentor, a guide for Experience D.C., and for the past year and a half, he has served as president of Phi Sigma Pi, the National Honors Fraternity.

As a recipient of the Manatt-Trachtenberg Prize, Diaz will receive a cash award and his name will be engraved on a silver cup, which is prominently displayed on campus. The prize was created in 2004 by the Charles T. Manatt, former chairman of the GW Board of Trustees, and Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, President Emeritus and University Professor of Public Service.

For more information about GW's Commencement on the National Mall, visit www.commencement.gwu.edu.

For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.

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