Author: Leslie Gibson McCarthy

Kristy Anderson puts people at the center of her work, both in and out of the classroom. “I approach my research with a person-centered philosophy,” says Anderson, a master’s of social work candidate from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. “Person-centered is allowing the person with a disability to govern their own lives and goals. We are simply there to help them through the process.” Anderson is one of 12 Outstanding Graduates for 2012 to be profiled in the Record.

The men’s track & field team won its fourth-consecutive University Athletic Association (UAA) outdoor title, while the WUSTL women finished as the runner-up for the second year in a row on the final day of the 2012 UAA Outdoor Championships April 29.

Robert Mecham, PhD, a pioneering cell biologist, and Nancy Morrow-Howell, PhD, a leading national scholar in gerontology, will receive Washington University’s 2012 faculty achievement awards, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced. Mecham is the recipient of the Carl and Gerty Cori Faculty Achievement Award, and Morrow-Howel the Arthur Holly Compton Faculty Achievement Award. They will receive their awards and give presentations of their scholarly work during a ceremony in December.

Washington University in St. Louis School of Law celebrated the outstanding achievements of seven individuals at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner April 20. Four alumni received Distinguished Law Alumni Awards; two received Distinguished Young Law Alumni Awards; and one received the Dean’s Medal.

Attendees dare to ride Pharaoh’s Fury at the 2012 Thurtene Carnival held this past weekend on the Danforth Campus. The entirely student-run carnival featuring rides, games and well-rehearsed plays and musical performances, has been a part of campus life for more than 100 years. Proceeds from this year’s event benefited Guardian Angels Settlement Association.

The National Day of Prayer typically sparks debate about whether the day violates the establishment clause from the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This year’s observance on May 3, however, likely will take on added significance, says John Inazu, JD, first amendment expert and professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis. The reason? 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Engel v. Vitale, which invalidated official prayer in public schools.

Third-year law students Justin Lepp, Nick Rosinia and Mikela Sutrina are the first Washington University in St. Louis School of Law team to win the American Bar Association’s (ABA) National Appellate Advocacy Competition, the largest and most competitive moot court competition in the country. The students went a combined 11-0 in the Seattle Regional and National Final en route to the championship April 14, surpassing 209 other teams from 118 law schools.

Graduate student groups and individual leaders at Washington University in St. Louis who help “bridge the gaps” between graduate and professional students from diverse areas of study throughout WUSTL’s seven schools were recognized during a recent awards ceremony and reception. The Graduate Professional Council’s Bridging GAPS (Graduate and Professional Students) Awards Ceremony was held April 9 in the Danforth University Center’s Goldberg Formal Lounge.

The No. 17 men’s tennis team won its seventh straight match with an 8-1 victory over No. 30 DePauw University April 21 at the Tao Tennis Center. WUSTL is 9-0 this season at home has won 15 straight home matches dating back to last season. Updates also included on women’s tennis, women’s golf, track & field, softball and baseball.

Washington University in St. Louis will award six honorary degrees during the university’s 151st Commencement May 18. They are: David M. Becker, JD; C. Ronald Kahn, MD; Richard J. Mahoney; Mike Peters; Gloria M. Steinem; and Donald M. Suggs, DDS. During the ceremony, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Brookings Quadrangle on the Danforth Campus, WUSTL also will bestow academic degrees on approximately 2,800 members of the Class of 2012.