The David Everett Chantler Award goes to the Senior who best exemplifies the qualities of courage, strength of character and high moral purpose that were characteristic of the life of Mr. Chantler.
The awards committee chose two outstanding candidates this year. They are Jennifer Brevorka of Calhoun College and James Henley Garman of Ezra Stiles College.
Jennifer Brevorka
Ms. Brevorka is described as an outstanding student, a history major and a member of the history Honor society. She has been a leader in a variety of ways: In her college as a master's aide and head aide and as editor of Calhoun publications; in the community through participation in the T.I.E.S. Program; and as varsity athlete, where she has been captain of women's crew.
But the occasion for awarding the Chantler prize goes not to these achievements, but for handling great adversity with grace and courage.
She consulted a physician last fall when experiencing extreme fatigue, to find that she suffered from cancer of the thyroid. She underwent surgical removal with a complete thyroidectomy during the Christmas holiday break. However, she battled back, missing only a few days of class.
She continued her work as head aide at her own insistence, and remarkably, continued to try to compete in crew and continued to serve as captain as long as she could despite this debilitating and anxiety-producing illness.
In the face of the fear and worry of cancer, she has demonstrated extraordinary qualities of courage and strength of character. For these qualities Jennifer Brevorka is deserving of the David Everett Chantler Award.
James Henley Garman
James Henley Garman has been an outstanding citizen in his residential college. This year he is head freshman counselor for Ezra Stiles, a position he earned by dint of his humanity, his leadership and his enthusiasm. Jim has been a great counselor. His leadership style is to instill confidence in others, to make them believe in themselves. As a member of the Ezra Stiles Housing Committee in his freshman and sophomore years, and as co-chair his junior year, Jim was invaluable, soothing tempers, working compromises, dispelling paranoia and moving things along. His tact and his directness -- which because it is never personal, never stings -- has made the process a continuing success.
Jim's most important achievement has been to put the Habitat for Humanity Bicycle Challenge permanently on the Yale map. Building on the work of those who preceded him, he transformed the Challenge into a serious, permanent, fund-raising event that raises up to $175,000 annually.
As director of the Challenge, he has recruited corporate sponsors, hired and trained the Challenge's leaders, organized logistical support for the cross-country tour, and managed a large budget. As founder and director of the Tour, he dreamt up the idea and then brought it into being, by creating support within the community and then coordinating the volunteers who run the event.
In standing up for what he believes in, in encouraging others to
stand up too, in putting the needs of the community in front of those of
the individual, in believing that a team is only as strong as its weakest
member, Jim inspires by example. He is a richly deserving recipient of the
David Everett Chantler Award.
|