In an inspiring show of support and love, family, friends, collaborators, and fans turned out in droves to celebrate the commitment to service of five WashU community members.
Andrew de las Alas ’25, Sneha Chaturvedi ‘19 (MD/PhD candidate), Bella Gomez ’26, Adjunct Instructor Dr. Dwayne T. James, and Dr. Professor Susan Stiritz PhD, MSW, MBA, MA were honored at the 2024 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Awards on Wednesday, April 17. More than 140 guests — including community partners, mentors, friends, family, university officials, students, faculty, staff, and alumni — joined the Gephardt Institute at Stix House to celebrate.
“These people are being honored for the pure nature of the work that they do. Work that speaks to their heart, their passions, their values, to their commitment to meaningfully benefit our region and its people,” said Provost Beverly Wendland, who presented the awards. “This is the kind of work that represents the best of the WashU community and exemplifies the guiding principle of community impact from our Here & Next strategic plan.”
“Our honorees that we will celebrate today are exemplars as agents of change, and collaborators for a thriving St. Louis,” noted Stephanie Kurtzman, Executive Director of the Gephardt Institute. “They truly represent our shared Washington University commitment to be Washington University in St. Louis, for St. Louis, and with St. Louis.”
But Kurtzman and Wendland also mourned the passing of one of the awards’ namesakes, Gerry Virgil, who passed away in November 2023.
“I am so sorry that Gerry is no longer with us to share in the awards that bear her name,” Wendland said. “I miss seeing her here today, but I know that we are fortunate to feel her legacy and her spirit here with all of us.”
Bob Virgil, Dean Emeritus of Olin Business School, who with Gerry in 2003 supported the creation of the Ethic of Service Award, spoke to the importance of the awards to his late spouse.
“I have to say frankly, she was not much into naming things,” he said. “But this award was an exception. That was very special to her. She believed in the mission of it. And she loved to be here every year at this event to celebrate the awardees.”
Congressman Dick Gephardt, founder of the Gephardt Institute and a longtime friend of the Virgils, led a toast to the honorees — and likewise celebrated Gerry Virgil’s legacy.
“Before I propose the toast, to these incredible people for what they’ve done, and what they’re going to do,” Gephardt said, “I have to say one more word about Bob and Gerry. I’m 83 years old, and I’ve met a lot of people all over the country and all over the world.”
“There are not two better human beings that I have met than Bob and Gerry Virgil. Thank you for all that you’ve done for all of us for all these years,” said Gephardt.
For more information on the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Awards, the 2024 honorees, and photos from the awards celebration, visit the Gephardt website.
Founded during Washington University’s 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 2025 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Awards will open this fall.