The Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership recognizes students who excel academically, perform service to the College community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment.

Peggy Ryan Williams served as president of Ithaca College from 1997 to 2008. She was a strong advocate for academic achievement, co-curricular involvement, and community service. Based on these qualities, this award for academic and community leadership was named in her honor. After her tenure at Ithaca College, Dr. Williams has continued to support student leadership on campus and involvement in the community. She is a role model for life-long service to higher education, as demonstrated by her involvement on the board of the American Association of University Women, and her global work with the Women in Leadership in Higher Education Forum.

This award recognizes students who excel academically, perform service to the College community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment. The most outstanding students representing the College are selected for this award.

To be considered for this award, a student must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, be in good judicial standing, and have made contributions in multiple areas, including:

1. Academic activities,

2. Involvement and leadership in organizations,

3. Community service, and

4. Paid positions of a selective nature

The selection committee for this award consists of leaders in each of the academic schools and the Office of Student Engagement, as well as students who are former recipients of the award. This committee reads every application, ranks them, and reviews each applicant’s qualifications – which results in the 123 students being honored.