University of Mary Washington senior Rylie Vann has poured plenty of passion into a double major, three capstone projects and an array of campus involvement. But a recent accolade took the peer mentor and campus radio deejay – set to earn degrees next month in communication and digital studies, as well as in theatre – to new heights.
“I got more emotional than I expected,” said Vann, who was named Scholar of the Year at last weekend’s 2025 Virginias Collegiate Honors Council (VCHC) Conference. “I hadn’t realized how much receiving this award meant to me until I was giving my acceptance speech. I felt honored to represent UMW.”
She and first-year Mary Washington student Daphne Bobb swept the top honors at the conference, held April 4 and 5 at Virginia State University in Petersburg. Bobb was named Emerging Scholar of the Year, marking the first time both awards went to students from the same institution. The accolades, each including a $500 cash prize, were reserved for the best and brightest honors students in Virginia and West Virginia who exemplify outstanding scholarship, integrity and leadership.
“These students embody the very spirit of our program – enthusiasm, determination and a drive to make a difference,” said UMW Honors Program Director Kelli Slunt, who’s also a professor of chemistry. “It was a privilege to see two of our own recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to enhancing their education.”
A VCHC committee reviewed award applicants’ transcripts, recommendations and personal essays addressing the impact of honors education on students’ lives and communities.
Vann was recognized for her innovative work in lighting design and her triple capstone projects. For communication and digital studies, she examined stereotyping in reality TV franchises like The Bachelor, while her final theatre project included work as a production electrician on the department’s staging of Nunsense. Her Honors capstone included a “Production Electrician Guidebook” for future students. She also served as a leader within the City as Text™ curriculum, designed to give Honors students a closer look at the Fredericksburg region.
“It was difficult to try and summarize my time with UMW Honors,” said Vann, joined at the conference by fellow senior Honors students Erica Berger, Elizabeth Breckenridge, Alex Delano, Ellie Killian and Sasha Murphy, who each presented their own capstone projects. “The program has been such an integral part of my life and time on campus for four years.”
For Bobb, who is just beginning her college experience, the award was an unexpected honor she credits to her “amazing” advisors and support system at UMW. A mathematics major with a focus in data science and a 4.0 GPA, she’s worked as a teaching assistant and presented research on women’s rights in developing countries for her first-year seminar at the women and gender studies undergraduate research symposium. She also volunteers with service organizations, including UMW’s COAR (Community Outreach and Resources), the canine-centered Capital Area Rescue Effort, Circle K International and Planned Parenthood, and she performs jazz and classical pieces locally.
“At the conference, I saw the work of so many passionate students – it was really inspiring,” Bobb said. “My heart is full, and I feel so lucky and proud of my university and the work that I’ve done at Mary Wash.”
This year’s recognition from VCHC continues a tradition of accolades for Mary Washington students, including 2024 Scholar of the Year nominee Logan Kurtz and 2023 Scholar of the Year winner Hannah Harris.
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