This story was published in the 2022 Owl & Spade Magazine

Madison Sings ’22 received the 2022 Alton F. Pfaff Cup, Warren Wilson College’s highest honor given to a graduating senior. During her time at Warren Wilson, she built a strong and diverse academic record, advocated for social and environmental justice, played lacrosse, and served in multiple leadership roles.

Sings graduated with a double major in Environmental Studies with an Environmental Policy and Justice concentration, and in History and Political Science with a Public Policy concentration. You can learn more about her Capstone Projects for these majors in the story From First Year Seminar to Capstone Project.

While serving on the Environmental and Social Justice Crew, Sings collected data for STARS (Sustainability Tracking Assessments and Rating Systems) around campus. The school received a GOLD rating because of these collection efforts. The crew also spearheaded the initiative to have former President Lynn Morton, Ph.D., sign the Higher Education Carbon Pricing Endorsement Initiative. Morton was the first college president in North Carolina to do so.

In addition, Sings led the Women’s Lacrosse team, was a Resident Assistant for three semesters, and served as a Peer Group Leader for an environmental-justice-themed First Year Seminar. She served as one of two students on the campus-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and she was a member of the Alma Mater Committee whose purpose was to remove colonizing language from the school’s Alma Mater.

Since 1942, the Alton F. Pfaff Cup has been awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates integrity, common sense, a willingness to work, and a commitment to growth and progress. Pfaff was a 1929 graduate of the Asheville Farm School. He served as President of the Warren Wilson College Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Trustees.

The Pfaff Cup is awarded to students who excel in all areas of the College’s academic program: academics, work, community engagement, and campus life. Nominations are solicited from the community, and a committee of faculty and staff chooses a finalist to appear on a ballot given to all employees who vote for a winner.

This story was published in the 2022 Owl & Spade Magazine