The Williamson Medal is the highest student award presented each year at Franklin & Marshall’s Commencement. It is given to the member of the graduating class who has, during his or her senior year, reached the highest standing in character, leadership and scholarship. The medal was endowed by Owen Moon Jr., in memory of former trustee Henry S. Williamson, and has been presented annually since 1922.

This year, the Williamson Medal is awarded to Menelaos Raptis.

Raptis is originally from Thessaloniki, Greece. He majored in astrophysics and minored in applied mathematics, and is graduating summa cum laude. His honors thesis centered on his research into some of the smallest and faintest galaxies ever observed. In the fall, Raptis begins a doctoral program in astrophysics at Princeton University, on his way to becoming an astronaut.

Raptis spent much of his time at F&M conducting research. After his first summer as a Hackman Scholar, he was chosen to participate in the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) at Northwestern University, and then spent his third summer with Carnegie Astrophysics Summer Student Internship (CASSI) at the Carnegie Observatories. He also worked with several F&M professors, studying topics ranging from the mathematics of origami, to the aerodynamics of airplanes, to the physics
of magic.

He assisted admission efforts, serving on multiple admitted-student panels and outreach initiatives, and engaging prospective students and families in conversations about research, campus life, and opportunities at F&M. Raptis maintained continued communication with international applicants, helping expand awareness of F&M within global academic communities.

In his first year, Raptis founded Space Week at F&M, and later, founded its successor, STEM Week. He was the local lead for the NASA Space Apps Challenge and was recognized as a “Stellar Lead,” cofounded SCISTERS, an F&M community supporting women in STEM, and was an upper-level physics tutor and a preceptor/teaching assistant for introductory astronomy. He also served as president of both the Sigma Pi Sigma Physics and Astronomy Honor Society and the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society, was a staff member at the Philadelphia Alumni Writers House, and was a member of the badminton club.

Menelaos, your academic research and dedicated involvement in campus life, together with your outstanding record of scholarship and commitment to intellectual growth, clearly demonstrate Franklin & Marshall College’s ideal of developing graduates of intellect, character and leadership. You personify the spirit of the liberal arts and represent all that makes Franklin & Marshall College such a special place. Congratulations!