2008 Kaufman Prize Awarded
Kojo Asamoa-Caesar, a communications major from Annandale, Va., was awarded the 2008 Kaufman Prize at the Student Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 8.
The $10,000 prize is awarded to a graduating senior "who has exerted an exceptional and constructive influence on the university, its students or the community by demonstrating the highest qualities of leadership and service." Landmark Communications established the award to honor Charles L. Kaufman.
ODU's student body president his senior year, Asamoa-Caesar had a 3.51 GPA and minored in political science. He was the founder and president of TRUST and an intramural flag football and intramural basketball co-captain.
He received the Stihl Inc. Hometown Hero Award (January 2007) and Emerging Leader Award (April 2006). He plans to attend the College of William and Mary Law School and study international human rights law.
Asamoa-Caesar, who chose to attend ODU because of its diversity, named Lesa Clark, director of multicultural student services, as his most inspiring mentor.
James R. Lin, a biology major with a 4.0 GPA from Virginia Beach, was named runnerup for the Kaufman Prize and received a cash award of $2,454. He will begin his medical doctorate program next fall, and has already been accepted to several schools, including the Medical College of Virginia and Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Lin named Nancy Wade, associate professor emeritus of biological sciences, as his most inspiring mentor.