Brittany Richardson of Hull receives the Saint Michael's Award during the college's commencement week

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Brittany Richardson of Hull receives the Saint Michael's Award during the college's commencement week.

COLCHESTER, VT (05/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Brittany Richardson, daughter of Kevin Richardson of Hull and Cynthia Moore of Northborough, was awarded the Saint Michael's Award during the week, May 11 – 14, celebrating Saint Michael's College 105th commencement.

Ms. Richardson, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies and in sociology/anthropology, magna cum laude, earned the Saint Michael's Award, which is given to the member of the senior class who over the past four years "has been involved for the betterment of the class and the community."

Michael Samara, SMC vice president for student affairs and dean of students, presented the award, and said "Brittany's fine academic performance has been enhanced and complemented in a magnificent way by the learning derived through her many leadership responsibilities over the past four years."

Ms. Richardson, the 2011-2012 SMC Student Association (SA) President, led weekly senate meetings, represented her peers to the Board of Trustees, and oversaw the SA Executive Board. She served previously as a Class Senator, member of the SA Programming Committee, and Hall Rep. In 2011, she coordinated senior week for the Class of 2011. She has served as a Wilderness Instructor, leading hiking and backpacking trips.

The Wilderness Director said "Simply put, without students like Brittany, the Wilderness Program would not function...her infectious enthusiasm and strong sense of self, inspires the next generation of Wilderness Program Instructors."

Ms. Richardson travelled to New Orleans on a service trip, and served four years as an Admission Office Tour Guide, as well doing an internship in the Admission Office.

Commencement speaker, MTV media pioneer and humanitarian, Tom Freston, a member of the Saint Michael's graduate class of 1967, told the graduates hard work is key to your future. "My advice," he said, "is really to look for a career in fields that are on the ascent-social innovation-and bring an old-fashioned work ethic to them."

"There is great value and sustaining dignity in good old-fashioned hard work, whether that means crunching numbers or cleaning bathrooms," Freston said.

Some 478 students received bachelor's degrees and another 65 received master's degrees at the commencement exercises held May 14th in the SMC Ross Sports Center. Some 4000 people including graduates and their families and friends, and faculty and staff of the college, located in Burlington, Vermont, heard excellent speeches from two students, from the college president, the chairman of the board, and from main speaker Tom Freston.

Learn What Matters at Saint Michael's College, The Edmundite Catholic liberal arts college, www.smcvt.edu . Saint Michael's provides education with a social conscience, producing graduates with the intellectual tools to lead successful, purposeful lives that will contribute to peace and justice in our world. Founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, Saint Michael's College is located three miles from Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top college towns. Identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nations Best 376 Colleges, and included in the 2012 Fiske Guide to Colleges, Saint Michael's has 1,900 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students. Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other grants. The college is one of the nation's top-100, Best Liberal Arts Colleges as listed in the 2012 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

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