By Joseph McClain – William & Mary Communications
Jacopo Gliozzi is an exemplar of the term “scholar-athlete.”
Actually, “scientist-athlete” would be more accurate. Gliozzi became interested in William & Mary because of its men’s gymnastics team. He ended up mastering not only the pommel horse, but also a rigorous math-physics double major with a perfect 4.0 GPA – capped by induction into Phi Beta Kappa.
On top of all that, Gliozzi pursued a research effort that is on track to see his name on as many as three peer-reviewed publications by the time he graduates.
Gliozzi ’19 is the 2019 recipient of William & Mary’s Thomas Jefferson Prize in Natural Philosophy. The honor is endowed by the trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation to recognize excellence in the sciences and mathematics in an undergraduate student.
The Jefferson Prize also commemorates Jefferson’s relationship with Professor William Small. The namesake of the William Small Physical Laboratory, Prof. Small was Jefferson’s science and mathematics tutor at William & Mary.
The Jefferson Prize is one of the awards traditionally bestowed in connection with Charter Day, which commemorates the founding of the institution in 1693. This year, the February Charter Day festivities will include the inauguration of university President Katherine Rowe and the re-investiture of Chancellor Robert Gates. Therefore, the Jefferson Prize, along with the Thomas Jefferson Awards and the Plumeri Awards to faculty, will be presented at public ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 31 in Miller Hall’s Brinkley Commons.
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