Sherry Rehman nominated for Smith College Medal

Rehman has been picked to receive the prestigious Smith College Medal for her achievements. Ambassador Rehman is among five distinguished professionals chosen for the award for the year 2013. Established in 1962 to recognize women who exemplify in their lives and work ‘the true purpose’ of a liberal arts education, the honor will be bestowed at Rally Day on Thursday, February 21. The following alumnae will receive awards: Gail Paster, Class of 1966, Shakespearean scholar; Kay Holekamp, Class of 1973, zoologist and field biologist; Janet McKinley, Class of 1976, global investor and philanthropist; Anne De Groot, Class of 1978, scientist and entrepreneur; and Sherry Rehman, Class of 1985, Pakistan Ambassador to the United States. Rally Day is a time for the Smith community to gather, remember the past, look to the future and celebrate student life. The occasion marks the first time that seniors publicly wear their gowns along with inventive hats in keeping with the spirited, “rallying” nature of the day. Classes are cancelled. In addition to celebrating the medalists, Rally Day has become the occasion that President Carol Christ announces the commencement speaker. It is worthy to note here that recently described as a “rock star of the world of Shakespeare,” Gail Paster first gained recognition for her scholarship while at George Washington University, while Kay Holekamp has led groundbreaking studies of spotted hyenas in the Masai Mara, Kenya for more than two decades. After an extraordinary career in the investment sector devoted to stewardship of clients’ life savings, Janet McKinley retired to partner with organizations intent on creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and social injustice. Whereas, internationally known for her research on the immune system’s response to vaccinations, Anne De Groot has explored the “genome-to-vaccine” approach to solving some of the world’s biggest infectious disease problems.