Breaking with tradition, UVA has announced the two recipients of the 2008 Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest honor bestowed upon members of the University community, according to a UVA press release.
Dean of Admission John A. “Jack” Blackburn and Dr. Sharon L. Hostler received the honor during Fall Convocation at the John Paul Johns Arena. Hostler is a physician and administrator for the School of Medicine and is now serving as interim vice provost for faculty advancement.
Blackburn and Hostler are the 55th and 56th recipients of the award. The Jefferson Award has been given since 1955 to those who “exemplify in character, work and influence the principles and ideals of Jefferson and advance the objectives for which he founded the University,” reads the release.
Blackburn, who has been dean of admissions since 1985, will retire at the end of the current academic year. He ended early-decision admissions, because it would have given more affluent students an advantage over students who needed to know their financial aid opportunities. Subsequently, he strived to strenghten financial aid efforts at the University.
Hostler attended the University of Vermont medical school and was the only woman in her class. She came to UVA in 1965 to complete her internship and residency and never left. In 1969, she joined the faculty of the School of Medicine as a pediatrics instructor; in 1987 she became full professor and the following year she became the first woman to hold an endowed chair in the School of Medicine— he McLemore Birdsong Professor of Pediatrics.
Here is a complete list of Thomas Jefferson Award recipients.