Blackburn receives UVA's highest honor

By Lindsay Barnes III |
Published online 1:05pm Tuesday Oct 28th, 2008
and in print issue #0744 dated Thursday Oct 30th, 2008

At yesterday's Convocation ceremony, University of Virginia dean of admissions John "Jack" Blackburn received the Thomas Jefferson Award for his 29 years of service to the university. In his remarks honoring Blackburn, UVA president John Casteen highlighted Blackburn's commitment to making UVA more diverse as his ultimate legacy. "By making disadvantaged students aware of the AccessUVA program," said Casteen, "he has enabled hundreds of young men and women to study here despite their limited financial means." Blackburn is currently battling cancer and will retire his post in June 2009.