ALGERNON SYDNEY SULLIVAN AWARD

Environmental studies major, Bri Mondesir ’22, was the recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for 2022.

A Bonner Scholar, Bri completed more than 1,800 hours of community service and leadership training while at Washington and Lee. She volunteered at W&L’s Campus Kitchen and became president of the Campus Kitchen leadership team. Bri also served as a Campus Kitchen intern, collaborating with community partner agencies, working in the Campus Garden, preparing and delivering meals, and planning for the next academic year.

Bri served in leadership roles for many other organizations as well, including Students for Educational Justice, based in New Haven, Connecticut; Live Healthy Rockbridge Coalition; Community First; and the Student Judicial Council. She was an active member of the Student Association for Black Unity, Amnesty International, Tri Beta Biological Honor Society, and the Native American Student Organization. During her sophomore year, Bri worked as a remote intern for Amartya, an environmental NGO in Buenos Aires, and she studied the impact of environmental issues on low-income communities in Argentina.

As part of a W&L project, Bri assisted Carilion Clinic with its tri-annual community health assessment for Rockbridge County, which included conducting focus groups to identify barriers to good health. This project, as well as her academic studies, volunteer work, and internship experiences have cemented Bri’s interest in public health. Following graduation, Bri moved to Durham, North Carolina where she began work for Spark Point Fundraising as a fulltime grant writer. Her postgraduate plans also include returning to school to pursue a master’s degree and Ph.D. in public health. 