Since 1974, the University of Virginia's Z Society has presented Edgar F. Shannon Awards to the "best" graduating students from each of the university's schools.
In the notification letter to the winners each year, the Z Society writes, "The definition of best student is intentionally left ambiguous because each of us pursues greatness in very different ways; however, the best student is an individual who has pursued academic greatness with fervent ardor and keen insight while never forgetting the importance of those priorities aside from school." Winners are determined based upon the recommendations of deans and students.
The awards are named for the University of Virginia's fourth president Edgar F. Shannon.
Recent winners School 2026 2025 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 School of Architecture Isabella Koch William Anderson Packwood Hannah Nicole Glatt Cory Joseph Paradis Brittany Anne Duguay Love Paulina Jonson Claudia Franziska Elzey Anna Eberle Rhees Isaac Min Kim William Rousselet Canup Sara Allen Harper Sarah Katherine Rovang Jared Eldridge Knicley Malindi Rasangi Lankatilleke Tamar Shafrir College of Arts & Sciences Kimora Bryant Skylar Ann Gay Sarah Virginia Wells Benjamin Daniel Groff Adam Thomas Antoszewski Taylor Nicole Wingo Edward Charles Schrom II Robert Lundell Richards Joseph Weje Riley Reedy Charles Swanson Ruffin Eley Evans Jason Harold Shore Kendall Lee Wallace Christopher Ross Walters Lynsey Ann Bates Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy Brianna Schindler Emily Elizbaeth Pitts Jack DiMatteo Margaret Nancy Gratz Cara Grace Mumford Ebob-Tabi Besong, Michelle Hye-Sun Cho Ian William Van der Hoven Anna Katherine Rorem Borna Kazerooni Anna A. Draganova Sarah Rothgeb Pinsky Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Alex Michael Garcia Austin J Benson Eric Ralph Hupe Matthew Robert Adams Ariel Frances Kahrl Julie Elisabeth Starr Thomas A Talhelm Joanna Elizabeth Swafford Kristine Grayson Dattelbaum Charles William Tanksley School of Education and Human Development Vadella Ellis-Pope Maya Renee Johnson Samuel David Stephenson Mark Vincent Beltran Yu Keaton Matthew Wadzinski Shanna Eisner Hirsch Hilary Gail Dack Andrea Kathryn Chernau Kathryn Highley Norbo Amanda Frances Sovik-Johnston Jessica Ann Hockett Adam Robert Hoppe Jennifer Kara Fier Kevin Patrick Haddix Danielle Elise Fallon School of Engineering & Applied Science Shriya Dale Lukas Milo Lehman Mary-Michael Robertson Frances Lerae Morales Daniel Naveed Tavakol Nicholas Richard Lee Katzman Rishi Raj Gupta Davis Whitaker Blalock Joshua Michael Raymond Gregory Eugene Troyer Ryan William Engels William Monroe Jacobs Jason Anthony Pan Eliah Ruth Shamir Daniel Joseph Glanz Jr. School of Law Brian C. Curtis Kevin Hoang William N. Hall Daniel J. Richardson Andrew Manns Jared Michael Kelson Samuel Matthew Strongin Benjamin Charles Wood Galen Bundy Bascom Katherine Grace Mims Crocker Emily Rebecca Gantt John Savage Moran Matthew Brian Nicholson Katherine Ireland Twomey Ajeet Pundalika Pai McIntire School of Commerce Michael Edwards Alexandra Belt Pentimonti Calvin Ralph Yeh Matthew Jerome D'Agati Jacob Aaron Zodikoff Douglas Wang-Lun Chan Alexandra Mayne Griswold Ryan William Whitney Joshua Kane Bressler Robert Michael Kolosieke Sieglinde Berit Hindrichs Ke Ma John B. Messamore Jr. Jennifer Renee Clifton Terry Edward Schnuck Jr., Graham Edmunds Tucker School of Medicine Kelly Anne Denhard Joseph Dan Khoa Nguyen Franck Herve Azobou Tonleu Elizabeth Thai-An Hoang Sarah Elizabeth Podwika Lauren Elise Evers Julia Vivian Loewenthal Pranay Sinha Irina Vladimirovna Kryzhanovskaya Paul David Hiles Andrew Neil Pfeffer Jason Michael Franasiak David Benjamin Bumpass Mok-chung Jennifer Chow School of Nursing Emily Montemuro Nakayla Renae Figgins Katherine Lindsey Young Nicole Jefferson Carolyn Joan Saunders Emily Lauren Winchester Cynthia Anne Quarles Sarah Jeanne Haas Brooke Elizabeth Atkinson Sarah Beth Borchelt Madeline Ann Matthews Carolyn Elizabeth Lawson Alicia Marie Dean Sarah Morris Boschung Kelly Marie Wood
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