BC Debuts New Academic Wall of Honor

Boston College has unveiled a new Academic Wall of Honor to commemorate the fifty-nine Eagles who have so far earned Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill, Goldwater, and Truman scholarships—the most prestigious academic honors in the world—during their undergraduate years. The installation, located on the first floor of Gasson Hall near the Gasson Rotunda, includes each recipient’s name and graduation year and will be updated annually to recognize future award winners.

BC Associate Vice President of University Communications Jack Dunn created the project as a tribute to some of the greatest minds that have passed through the University. “These individuals represent Boston College at its best,” Dunn said. “Having had the pleasure of interviewing many of them during the past twenty-five years, I have always been impressed by their talent, leadership, and commitment to excellence.  They deserve to be recognized and celebrated as examples for our current students to emulate.” Dunn additionally conceived of the Finnegan Award Wall of Honor. Also located outside the Gasson Rotunda, it lists the names of the recipients of the University’s highest student honor, which is presented each year at Commencement. 

The scholarships recognized on the Academic Wall of Honor are incredibly competitive. For instance, Rhodes Scholarships, among the oldest graduate scholarships in the world, are awarded each year to only thirty-two American students, providing them with two or more fully funded years at the University of Oxford. Meanwhile, only eighteen American students annually receive Churchill Scholarships, which provide a year of graduate study at the University of Cambridge. “Boston College’s faculty is proud of our many graduates who have earned these prestigious awards,” Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley said, “and the Academic Wall of Honor will be a powerful reminder of their legacy.” ◽