RBC Wins Big At Annual Virginia21 Luncheon

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2024

Contact: Jesse Vaughan, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer/jvaughan@rbc.edu

Richard Bland College of William & Mary (RBC) received three of five awards given at Virginia21’s 15th Annual Leadership Luncheon. Virginia21 is a statewide, non-partisan organization that brings young Virginians together to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow. 

The first of the three awards, the Prosperous Virginia Award, was awarded to RBC student Michael Mason. His leadership, civic engagement initiatives, and mature approach to tackling complex issues made him the standout choice for this year’s award. The future doctor organized two entertaining and successful election game nights in his dorm to boost voter participation. Mason demonstrated exceptional skills in seeing the bigger picture, identifying core problems, consulting experts when needed, and charting an effective path forward—all with wisdom and poise beyond his years.

The Community Builder Award was awarded to Thomas “Flight” Larus who embodied Virginia21’s mission of building community. He has a genuine curiosity about others’ perspectives and the ability to make everyone feel heard and valued. As the head of RBC Student Assembly, he has fostered an inclusive environment that empowers his fellow RBC Student Leaders and beyond. Larus’ willingness to learn, help others, and talent for bringing people together made him the model recipient of this well-deserved award.

Last but not least, the John H. Hager Award for Civic Engagement went to the Student Leader teams at Richard Bland College and Radford University for their exceptional work hosting engaging, creative events that inspired civic participation across Virginia. RBC’s Virginia21 Election Trivia and Game Night was an inspiring success that motivated similar programming statewide.

Click here to learn more about Virginia21.