VCU news

By Pamela Stallsmith
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University will honor individuals and organizations who have made noteworthy contributions to the practice of government and the betterment of Virginia on Friday, Nov. 13.

The 11th annual Excellence in Virginia Government Awards program, a signature event of the Wilder School, will take place during a luncheon ceremony from noon to 2 p.m. at the Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad St.

“These awards recognize the outstanding work of remarkable Virginians whose tireless efforts have enhanced the well-being of our citizens and communities through innovative practices, creative approaches and dedication to public service,” said Niraj Verma, Ph.D., dean of the Wilder School.

This year, a special award for exemplary lifetime leadership will be given posthumously to William C. “Bill” Bosher Jr., Ed.D., whose extraordinary career in education spanned more than 40 years. Bosher, who died in December, was a distinguished professor of public policy at the Wilder School and founding director of its Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute. He was also a former dean of VCU’s School of Education, served as state superintendent of public instruction and led two of Virginia’s largest school divisions, Henrico and Chesterfield counties.

Other honors are as follows:

Lifetime Achievement Award: William C. “Bill” Shelton, director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, has led his agency with distinction for 17 years. This award recognizes a Virginian whose career represents the highest values of public service. Nearly all of Shelton’s 37-year state government career has been with the DHCD, where he has led efforts to provide community development and housing program support to communities across the state.

Unsung Heroes: Joyce Walton, retired special assistant in the governor’s office, provided distinguished and exceptional service for nearly 40 years. As policy expert, mentor and keeper of institutional knowledge, Walton served 10 governors until her retirement in 2006. She oversaw the bill review process, an intense, highly technical activity that required a great deal of policy expertise and a steady temperament.

Community Enhancement Award: An Achievable Dream Academy is a partnership among Newport News Public Schools, the city of Newport News and the local business community that gives at-risk students a chance to succeed in school. Approximately 1,150 students in grades kindergarten through 12 attend the academy, which boasts a 100 percent graduation rate. Ninety-five percent of graduates go to college, while 5 percent enter the military or trade school. Achievable Dream began in 1992 as a tennis and tutoring program and, under the leadership of Newport News businessman Walter Segaloff, became a full-time, extended-day school for 400 students in 1994.

Hill-Robinson Expansion of Freedom Award: Julian Bond, professor emeritus of history at the University of Virginia and a civil rights icon, is being honored posthumously. Bond taught at Virginia for nearly 23 years until his retirement in 2012. Bond, who died Aug. 17 at age 75, was a founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; was the first president of the Southern Poverty Law Center; and served as national chairman of the NAACP from 1998-2010.

Public Information Award: The Virginia Department of General Services developed a comprehensive plan to communicate essential information about the 2015 UCI Road World Championships to 11,000 state employees in downtown Richmond. DGS brought together key stakeholders — including Richmond City Police, race organizer Richmond 2015, Capitol Police, the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management and the Virginia Department of Transportation — to determine the best way to inform people to help make the event a success.

Public-Private Partnership: The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute in Roanoke was created as a public-private partnership in 2007 to improve human health and quality of life by providing leadership in medical education and biomedical and clinical research. It leverages Virginia Tech’s strength in basic sciences, bioinformatics and engineering with Carilion Clinic’s experienced medical staff and rich history in education.

Also during the awards luncheon, four Virginians will be honored during the In Memoriam recognition:

• Vincent F. Callahan Jr., of Fairfax, who served in the Virginia House of Delegates for 40 Years until his retirement in 2008 and chaired the House Appropriations Committee.
• James Cook Jr. of Chester, senior adviser in the Department of Planning and Budget who worked for the agency from 1967-2004.
• Franklin P. Hall of Richmond, a member of the VCU Board of Visitors who served in the House of Delegates from 1976 to 2009 and was the former House Minority Leader.
• James T. Roberts of Glen Allen, a longtime state leader whose posts included director of the Department of General Services.

Tickets for the luncheon are $35 per person. To register, please contact Shirley McDaniel at 804-827-0867 or srmcdani@vcu.edu. The money raised at the event helps fund scholarships for Wilder School students, who are preparing to become the next generation of public and private sector leaders.