The 22nd Annual Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award ceremony recognized the efforts and dedication of eight members of the WashU community on April 1 at Stix House.
“It’s a happy occasion,” said Bob Virgil, to a crowd of more than 100 gathered. “It’s one where people are looking forward. They’re not wringing their hands in despair. They’re thinking about how to make communities better.”
Recognized at the award’s Toast to Honorees on April 1 were Matthew Bernstine, Marcus Bernard Foston, Catalina Freixas, Isabella Viola Yao Gomes, Cassandra Hage, Denise Lieberman, Art McCoy, and Gautham Sudhakar. Click their names to learn more about them and their contributions to St. Louis, and click here to watch a recording of the ceremony.
The award is named for Bob Virgil, an emeritus trustee, dean and professor, and his late wife Gerry Virgil. Gerry Virgil, who passed away in 2023, was instrumental to WashU community service and philanthropic initiatives during Bob Virgil’s time as a vice chancellor and dean of the business school at WashU. Learn more about the Virgils here.
“I think every year when Gerry came here, I think it made her think of her work with Meals on Wheels and the school district and the church, the voting polls,” he said. “Those really were the best times of her life, outside of our family and our children.”
WashU Provost Beverly Wendland presented each honoree a plaque and expressed her gratitude for their community engagement and partnerships that strengthen St. Louis.
“These awards honor representatives from across our community, undergraduates, graduate students, staff, faculty, alumni or university volunteers for their exceptional engagement and leadership in our community, for selfless dedication to work that uniquely leverages their talents and passions while contributing to a thriving St. Louis,” she said.
“I also want to acknowledge Bob Virgil and his lovely wife Gerry for their foresight in creating these awards more than two decades ago, and for their incredible example of service, both to our city and to WashU,” Wendland added.
Congressman Dick Gephardt, founder of the Gephardt Institute and self-proclaimed “president of the Bob Virgil Fan Club,” explained that in its third decade, the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award — and recognizing engaged citizenship — is more important than ever.
“I want to offer a toast to these citizen leaders that have done all this incredible service to community and other people,” said Gephardt. “I understood from 35 years of public service that the secret sauce of democracy is citizen leaders. Citizen leaders.”
Gephardt added that democracy isn’t a given, but community-minded people like the eight honorees help ensure that it is upheld.
“It’s because of people like this, people who engaged in their community, helped other people, were servants to other people to make sure that we carry on this magnificent experiment, which I am in awe of still today, that we can govern ourselves,” he said. “Thank you for what you’ve done, thank you for what you’re continuing to do, and thank you for what you’re going to continue to do all the rest of the days of your lives.”
Founded during Washington University in St. Louis’ Sesquicentennial year, the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award is an annual award recognizing a select group of WashU community members who exemplify a character of service and engagement with the St. Louis region.
Any member of the WashU community, past or current, who resides in and serves the St. Louis community is eligible to receive the award. This includes students, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees, and volunteers* of the university. Nominations for the 2026 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Awards will open this fall.
*For purposes of the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award, university volunteers have a formal, active, and sustained role with a Washington University organization, usually in a leadership capacity, through the Board of Trustees, National Advisory Councils, or recognized university auxiliary organizations.