Patrick Keller, a biochemistry major, was awarded a President’s Medal by President Adam Weinberg in a ceremony that took place on Friday, April 15, in Swasey Chapel. The President’s Medal is the highest honor the college bestows on a student, given for academic success as well as for creating a legacy at Denison. Keller was one of only nine students to receive this honor.
In presenting the President's Medal to Keller, Professor of Philosophy and chair of the faculty Steven Vogel said of Keller, “Patrick, you have been described as a true scholar-athlete, garnering the respect of faculty and fellow students both in the classroom and on the basketball court. A biochemistry major and Spanish minor, secretary of Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre Med Society, tutor in both the Chemistry and Biochemistry Departments, recipient of an Anderson Summer Research Assistantship and Outreach Chair for the Denison Chemical Society, your academic success has been shaped by your diligent work habits and selflessness. As an athlete, you have been described as 'the ultimate teammate, known for being hardworking, reliable, quiet, but not afraid to speak up and challenge another player to do better.' You have been a four-year letter winner, a three-time recipient of the Top 50 Scholar Athlete awards, a recipient of the NCAC Scholar Athlete Award, and thi s year, both a team starter and captain. Your generosity of spirit and strong sense of service have extended off campus as a volunteer for Hospice of Central Ohio and to Bogota, Columbia, where you spent eight weeks as a volunteer teacher with Emerging Voices, creating lesson plans and working with local teachers and university students to assist young people in learning the English language. Patrick, you have been called a regular guy who outworks and out cares all others. With this medal, we thank you for your dedication to Denison, and showing us what it truly means to be a team player.”
