Madison Sings has received the Alton F. Pfaff Cup, Warren Wilson College’s highest honor given to a graduating senior.

Sings recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a double major inenvironmental studieswith anenvironmental policy and justiceconcentration, and in history and political science以公共政策为中心。在沃伦威尔逊大学(Warren Wilson)就读期间，她取得了良好而多元的学术成绩，倡导环境正义，打过长曲棍球，担任过多种领导职务。

For her environmental policy and justice capstone project, Sings partnered with thetown of Black Mountainto help introduce a stormwater utility fee credit for residents who implement green infrastructure on their property. She also completed a public policy capstone project where she collaborated with theFriends Committee on National Legislationto complete a case study on how interest groups influence the U.S. democratic system.

Sings’ professors said she stood apart from other students because of her scholarly inquiry, inquisitive nature and deep comprehension skills.

“Madison’s questions and comments quickly caught my attention and encouraged dialogue among the other students, which led to a lively class,” saidDr. Daleah Goodwin, a professor and the chair of history, politics and economics at Warren Wilson. “I realized that not only did she have the ability to memorize historical dates and facts, but that she understood how to apply them within a larger social, political, and economic framework.”

Sings advocated for environmental justice in a variety of ways. While serving on the environmental and social justice crew, she collected data forSTARS (Sustainability Tracking Assessments and Rating Systems)around campus. The school received a GOLD rating because of these collection efforts. The crew also led a campus-wide campaign to register Warren Wilson students to vote in the primary and general elections, and they spearheaded the initiative to have President Lynn Morton, Ph.D. sign theHigher Education Carbon Pricing Endorsement Initiative. She was the first college president in North Carolina to do so.

Sings continued her advocacy work through theAdvocacy Corps, where she mobilized students, faculty, staff and other community members in Western North Carolina to lobby on theEnvironmental Justice For All Act.

Through Sings’ engagement on campus, she proved to be a valued and well-respected member of the Warren Wilson community, and she served in several leadership roles. She led the women’slacrosse team, served as a peer group leader for an environmental justice-themed first-year seminar, and she was an active participant in community engagement experiences. As a member of EPIC (Everyday People Imitating Christ), Sings led Bible studies and hosted game nights, movie nights and other themed events. She served as one of two students on the campus-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and she was a member of the Alma Mater Committee whose purpose was toremove colonizing language from the school’s Alma Mater. Madison served as an auxiliary member of theEngage Mentorship Programin 2020 to 2021 and was a Resident Assistant for three semesters.

“I don’t know how Madison does it,” saidDr. Amy Knisley他是沃伦威尔逊大学环境政策与法律教授。“她是如何有条不紊、脚踏实地地追求着遥远遥远的梦想:为所有人提供清洁的空气、清洁的水和真正的正义。在周围的煤气灯下，她是如何相信自己的直觉的。她皱着眉头轻轻一扬，就能改变整个房间，让卡住的对话继续下去。她如何做到沃伦·威尔逊学校学生领袖能做的‘所有事情’，同时还在黑山教孩子们跆拳道，在华盛顿游说环境正义，在全球大流行前夕在芬兰留学，在朋友和家人需要的时候在他们身边，在自己的受伤和困难时期努力工作。”

After graduation, Sings traveled with Knisley and Dr. Liesl Erb to France for her second study abroad experience at Warren Wilson. She plans to continue her environmental justice work and said she would like to influence environmental policy working from inside the government, rather than lobbying from outside. She has been building contacts through the Warren Wilson alumni network with the Southeast Region of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and she hopes to secure a job with their Environmental Justice unit after graduation.

Since 1942, the Alton F. Pfaff Cup has been awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates integrity, common sense, a willingness to work, and a commitment to growth and progress. Pfaff was a 1929 graduate of the Asheville Farm School. He served as president of the Warren Wilson College Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Trustees.

The Pfaff Cup is awarded to students who excel in all areas of the college’s academic program: academics, work, community engagement and campus life. Nominations are solicited from the community and a committee of faculty and staff chooses a finalist to appear on a ballot given to all employees who vote for a winner.

This year’s Pfaff cup was made by Warren Wilson CollegeFine Woodworkinginstructor Ben Blackmar. It came from wood grown on campus. The trophy is made of Cherry and Black Walnut, and the bowl on top is made of Spalted Sycamore, which means that the tree creates a colorful marble pattern on the wood.