The Virginia Press Association has named University President John T. Casteen, III as the Virginian of the Year - the association's highest honor.
Each year, the Virginian of the Year award goes to a native Virginian who the VPA feels has achieved well in fields such as politics, entertainment, education or research.
Casteen's 20-year-long presidency saw a long list of improvements to the University, all of which contributed to the VPA's decision. He also was recognized for his involvement in the Higher Education Restructuring Act and the $3 billion capital campaign, according to the VPA.
Casteen, however, said he is hesitant to take credit for any such achievements.
"To be very candid, I don't feel that I personally can claim to have accomplished anything," he said in an e-mail. "We work in teams here. Leonard Sandridge, Dr. [Arthur] Garson and Peter Low (provosts at various times), other VPs and deans, and student leaders have all contributed as much to anything we may have gotten right as I have. To work with brilliant, dedicated and often very funny people is a great privilege, and to do that because we all believe in the [University] and its faculty and students is an even greater privilege. That's how it has been from the beginning."
Though he is serving his final year as president, Casteen said he is leaving at a time which he, the rector and Board of Visitors believe is right.
"To have the recognition come while the group with whom I have worked is still here and intact is a big thing because all of them know, as I do, that the award actually recognizes the [University] itself," he said.
Previous recipients of the honor include NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd, former Gov. Mills E. Godwin, Jr. and entertainers Bruce Hornsby, June Carter Cash and Tim and Daphne Maxwell Reid.
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