Colby-Sawyer Award

The Colby-Sawyer Award is given to the senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, best exemplifies the ideals of the college in personal dignity, intellectual growth, contribution to campus life and constructive influence on other students.

Senior Commencement Speaker

The Commencement Speaker Medal is presented to a student who represents the character of the graduating class and will give an inspirational and engaging speech that represents the college’s values and learning outcomes.

William H. Hyland ’19

Sport management major William H. “Will” Hyland is the recipient of both student awards this year. Will grew up in Searsmont, Maine, and, like the 2018 Colby-Sawyer Award winner, graduated from Belfast Area High. He played youth baseball in what he calls the “perfect era” of successful Boston professional teams and developed a passion for all sports; his fascination with the time period influenced his Honors Capstone.

Searching for a college, Will found that Colby-Sawyer matched the feel of his small hometown while also offering robust academic programs. He considered majoring in politics, pre-law or business, but sport management allowed him to combine a passion for athletics with a career trajectory.

Will interned for two summers as a game day associate for the Portland Sea Dogs, the Boston Red Sox’s Double-A affiliate team. He also landed an internship with Dartmouth College’s multimedia rights partner by following up with a guest speaker in his Sport Finance class. And, he had the opportunity to shadow Ethan Casson ’96, CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.

A Wesson Honors Program scholar, Will has served as his class president for three years and as an Orientation Leader. During his first year, he helped produce several episodes of “The Sports Guys,” a podcast dedicated to covering Colby-Sawyer’s teams as well as professional sports. He was also a member of the Presidential Blue Key Society, Navigators Christian Fellowship, and the Exercise and Sport Sciences Club.

In his free time, Will developed a sizable portfolio of published pieces. Many cover sports and can be found at outlets such as Chowder & Champions and Yawkey Way Report, but he’s also written about the places that matter to him. His 2016 article “Why You Should Choose Colby-Sawyer” on the Odyssey circulated far beyond campus.

After graduation, Will will return to Maine to pursue a career in marketing and sales with a sustainable retail company in Portland.