The conversation at Table No. 22 – spoken over London broil, potatoes and sautéed mixed vegetables – went sort of like this: “Do you think it will be so-and-so?” “Oh, she’s in my top ten.” “Maybe there will be three, like there were a couple of years ago.”

What the half-dozen young ladies were talking about was not “American Idol,” but who would be the 2007 Presidential Medalist, the highest accolade Sweet Briar College bestows on a senior class member.

The coveted honor was presented by SBC President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld on March 21 at the annual academic recognition dinner in Prothro Dining Room.

2007 Presidential Medalist Christina Shaheen MoosaA replica of the medal Muhlenfeld wears during official ceremonies, the Presidential Medal goes to the student who has demonstrated exemplary intellectual achievement and distinction in areas including service to the community, contributions to the arts, enlargement of the school’s global perspective, athletic fitness and achievement, leadership and contributions to community discourse.

Members of the College faculty, staff and administration submit nominations, and a committee headed by the president makes the final decision. Muhlenfeld described the selection process as “one of the most enjoyable – and difficult – tasks for the president and her senior colleagues each year.”

Prior to presenting the award, the president praised all of the event’s honorees, all members of the dean’s and first-year honors lists. “I look forward to this occasion every year when we, as a faculty and staff, have the opportunity to recognize students’ accomplishments,” she said.

“You are an elite group of women who have made a permanent mark here at Sweet Briar through your hard work, dedication, commitment, and intellectual and personal maturity. It has paid off. You will forever carry with you your academic experiences at Sweet Briar.”

Seconds before receiving the honor, Moosa realizes who the president is describing.Before revealing the identity of the Presidential Medalist, Muhlenfeld described the student and her accomplishments. “We already know that a Presidential Medalist is a special human being, and our recipient this year will, as you will soon see, fully embody that description,” she began.

She went on to say the mystery student would graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and theater, and that she had transferred from Tidewater Community College, where she was the 2004 commencement speaker.

About this time, the realization of who the president was talking about appeared to hit Christina Shaheen Moosa, a senior from Chesapeake, Va. Sitting near the front of the dining hall, just a dozen feet from the podium, Moosa smiled shyly, looking down at the table.

Muhlenfeld continued listing the honors the Presidential Medalist had amassed since coming to Sweet Briar: Phi Beta Kappa, the Rebecca Tomlinson Lindblom Award in philosophy, the Dean’s Award, All-U.S.A. Academic Team, the Shakespeare Prize, regular appearances on the dean’s list, and honors summer research fellowships in 2005 and 2006.

In addition, she has attended a Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy at Rutgers University, and is a tutor and departmental assistant in the philosophy department. She also has edited for the Honors Journal.

“[She] has two forthcoming publications in the Sweet Briar Honors Journal for Summer 2005 and 2006: “Metamorphoses: A Director’s Process” and “Friedrich Nietzsche’s Critique of Christian Morality,” both of which grew out of projects she presented at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of Undergraduate Scholarship,” Muhlenfeld said.

“These brief descriptions can’t do justice to such a multifaceted woman, but I hope you have a sense of the impressive contributions that our recipient has made to our community.”

Muhlenfeld then made the announcement, and Moosa was presented with the Presidential Medal, a big smile on her face as applause filled the room.

Moosa is the daughter of Deborah Higgins and Lamar Dixon of Chesapeake. She is a 2002 graduate of Great Bridge High School.

– By Suzanne Ramsey, SBC staff writer