In cooperation with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the University has chosen Sen. John Warner, R-Va., U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and Gro Harlem Brundtland, United Nations special envoy on climate change and former prime minister of Norway, as the recipients of the 2008 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals.
According to University spokesperson Carol Wood these medals -- offered in the fields of law, architecture and citizen leadership -- are the highest honors the University awards to those outside the University community.
"Each medal recognizes the achievements of people who embrace the endeavors that Thomas Jefferson excelled in himself," Wood said. "These are three areas that he held in high regard."
Recipients of the law and architecture awards are chosen by committees comprised of deans and representatives of the University law and architecture schools as well as by representatives of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization that owns and operates Monticello, Wood noted. The recipient of the award for citizen leadership, Wood added, is chosen by a committee headed by University leaders such as President John T. Casteen, III and Gerald Baliles, Miller Center of Public Affairs director.
According to Foundation Director of Communications Wayne Mogielnicki, this is only the second year the Foundation has presented a citizen leadership award. Last year's recipient was former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, and this year's honoree is Warner, a University Law School alumnus.
According to Wood, Warner is being honored for his "lasting influence on our common culture" as well as his personal leadership.
"This honor is one of the most memorable and humbling experiences of my career," Warner said. "I remain deeply indebted to the University for the education and support given to me over many years enabling me to achieve my goals through public service."
The architecture medal -- which has been awarded since 1966, according to Wood -- will be presented this year to Brundtland.
Though Brundtland herself is not an architect, according to Architecture School Dean Karen Van Lengen, she has contributed to concepts of sustainable design.
"We wanted to commemorate a person whose work was in the area of sustainable thinking and design and planning," Van Lengen said, noting Brundtland "has shown enormous leadership going back to the 1980s in global sustainability."
When Brundtland served as prime minister of Norway, she chaired the Brundtland Commission, a U.N. program to understand and articulate global sustainability policy. According to Van Lengen, the commission approached sustainability as "a cooperation at the global level about how we use our resources, how we renew our resources [and] how we understand biodiversity."
The third award, in the field of law, will go to Scalia. According to Law School Dean John C. Jeffries, Jr., who sat on the committee that selected the medalist, "Justice Scalia is one of the most consequential legal thinkers of his time."
Jeffries noted that Scalia will spend time at the Law School, adding that University Law students are "extraordinarily fortunate to have the opportunity to question and learn from Antonin Scalia."
According to Mogielnicki, the medals will be presented during the University's Founder's Day activities in April, and afterward, the recipients will attend a formal dinner at Monticello.
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