Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Governmental Studies and one of the University's most well known professors, received one of the school's highest honors, the Thomas Jefferson Award, on Friday at Fall Convocation.
The Thomas Jefferson Award Committee presents this honor annually to the faculty member who best exemplifies the principles and ideals on which Thomas Jefferson founded the University.
In introducing the award, University President John T. Casteen III noted that Sabato is known widely for his lively and captivating lectures. Casteen went on to praise Sabato's ability to challenge individual minds in his smaller seminars.
Sabato's "devoted service to this University, and through it to the public good of the Commonwealth and the nation, are Jeffersonian in scope," Casteen said.
Over the years, Sabato has reached out to students and the community in many ways, from directing the government honors program to developing his persona as a well-respected political analyst, Casteen said.
Sabato also has affected young voters through the Center's Youth Leadership Initiative, which tries to involve middle and high school students in the electoral process.
Sabato received praise for his Jeffersonian image in Friday's ceremony, although he jokingly said, "the only similarities between Thomas Jefferson and myself are migraine headaches and vegetarianism."
Prof. R. Jahan Ramazani, chairman of the Thomas Jefferson Award Committee, said the similarities do not end there. "The stellar record Sabato has in a number of different areas reflects him as an ideal member of Jefferson's community," Ramazani said.
"U.Va. has done far more for me than I have done for it," Sabato said. "The best decision of my life came 31 years ago when I decided to come to U.Va. as an undergrad."
"I consider this a group award for the staff of the government department and the Center for Governmental Studies. A hundred or more people a year deserve this award, and I feel lucky to have won this time."
The Thomas Jefferson Award Committee, comprised of 10 faculty members and three students, makes its decision based on the all-around record of service for each nominee.
Although Ramazani stressed the strong field of nominees, he said, "The way Larry Sabato has brought education and political processes together around U.Va. is something that we all have to respect and value."
"He has helped to bring students into areas of public service as a devoted mentor, teacher and internationally known scholar," he added.
Sabato previously received the Alumni Association's Distinguished Professor Award and the Virginia State Council of Higher Education's Outstanding Professor Award for his excellence in teaching.
The Thomas Jefferson Award was established in 1955 with a citation and cash prize for the recipient. Income from an endowment established by the Robert Earll McConnell Foundation provides the cash prize.
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