Matt MacFarland Receives Final Convocation Awards

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Matt MacFarland (right) and Dr. Evan Davis

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (04/28/2011)(readMedia)-- At Final Convocation on April 21, Hampden-Sydney College senior Matthew Earl MacFarland received the Grace and Hassell Simpson Prize and the Sallie Wright Harrison Poetry Award, both 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, the Simpson Prize recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement in English. The poetry award was for Matt's poem entitled, "It will be the same for both of us."

A Patrick Henry Scholar, Matt serves as Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper, The Hampden-Sydney Tiger, and is President of the honor societies Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership) and the Society for Collegiate Journalists. Matt plays varsity tennis and is a member of the Union Philanthropic Society, the Pre-Law Society, the French Club, the Madison Society, the International Club, and the honor societies Phi Beta Kappa (academics) and Eta Sigma Phi (classics). He was the recipient at Final Convocation in April 2010 of both the Harrison Poetry Award and the Ropp Literary Award. An English major, Matt graduated from Heritage High School and is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. MacFarland of Gretna.

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.