Christopher Griggs Receives Final Convocation Award

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Left to right: Dr. Evan Davis and Christopher Griggs

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (05/09/2012)(readMedia)-- At Final Convocation on April 26, Hampden-Sydney College senior Christopher Hunt Griggs received the Grace and Hassell Simpson Prize, presented by Dr. Evan R. Davis, Elliott Associate Professor of English. Established in honor of retired professor of English Hassell A. Simpson and his wife Grace, former Poet Laureate of Virginia, this award recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement in English. Christopher also received the Sallie Wright Harrison Poetry Award for his poem, "Topophilia for a Goldfish," and the Shelley A. Marshall Short Story Award for "Harvest Celebration."

A Venable Scholar, Christopher has served as Editor of the campus literary magazine, The Garnet, as President of the honor society, Sigma Tau Delta (English), and as Student editor of the H-SC Poetry Review. He is a member of the honor societies Phi Beta Kappa (academics), Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership), Alpha Psi Omega (theatre arts), and the Society for Collegiate Journalists. He was the recipient of the President's Award for Academic Excellence in Humanities at Opening Convocation in August 2011 and has completed Departmental Honors in English.  An English major, Christopher graduated from Park View Senior High School and is the son of Ron & Irma Griggs of South Hill.

A private college for men, Hampden-Sydney is ranked in the top tier of liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The College is known for its liberal arts curriculum, the Honor Code which stresses individual and collective responsibility, and a focus on the needs of young men.