May 18, 2013
Catholic University President John Garvey presented Timothy R.W. McEvoy of Lafayette, N.J., with the President's Award during the 124th Commencement Ceremony on May 18.
McEvoy, a mathematics major, earned a 3.811 grade point average. He is the immediate past Grand Knight of CUA's Knights of Columbus Council. McEvoy is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, the freshman honors society, and Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honors society, and he was inducted on May 17 into Phi Beta Kappa, the collegiate academic honor society.
During his four years at the University, McEvoy has been active in many of the Knights' programs, including serving on the national College Council Advisory Board. Under his leadership, CUA's council was awarded the 2011 Council Activity Award. This award recognized the council's OverKnight Program, which enables new Knights to attend off-campus retreats to meet and discuss their faith.
While McEvoy was the Grand Knight, the CUA council was also recognized for being a top contributor to the University's 125th anniversary goal of 125,000 hours of service.
McEvoy played a key role in organizing hundreds of CUA students who volunteered as ushers for the Vigil for Life Mass held before the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., each year. This Mass is attended by thousands from the local area and across the country.
Through Campus Ministry, he served as a resident minister to sophomore men living in Gibbons Hall, helped coordinate student retreats, and led weekly RENEW groups. McEvoy was also involved in organizing mission trips to Belize and Jamaica.
The President's Award is the highest University award presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated prominent leadership and outstanding scholarship, and who exemplifies the highest ideals of Christianity. Nominees should have a grade point average of 3.8 or better, and they should have distinguished themselves in various activities throughout their time at CUA.
"Tim is well beloved and respected by his peers for his authenticity and caring for others. A man of faith, he is both friend and mentor to many," noted the President's Award citation, which was read during the ceremony.
McEvoy said he was surprised at being selected for the President's Award and noted that many other students deserved the award. "To pick me of all the seniors - there's about 600 of us graduating - it's extremely humbling," he said.
He credits the Knights with playing a key role in his life at CUA. "They are examples of sincere Catholic men committed to their faith and to their families," he said. "The Knights on campus seemed to offer an environment to help me grow as a young man, starting out on my own at college, and not knowing anyone." The Knights were, he said, "a perfect way to get started in service and explore my faith."
After graduation, he said he plans to take a few days to visit his parents and extended family. He heads to the University of Notre Dame May 31 to begin work on an M.Ed. through Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education: Service Through Teaching program.
The program recruits recent college graduates to serve for two years as teachers in Catholic schools while earning their master's degrees. McEvoy said he will teach mathematics at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla.