Ryan Leonard recognized with UDAA's Taylor award as outstanding man of the class of 2014

2014 May 5

Ryan Leonard, from Dover, DE, has been selected as the recipient of the Alexander J. Taylor Sr. Award and named the outstanding man of the 2014 graduating class at the University of Delaware.

The award is given annually by the UD Alumni Association to recognize a senior man who most exemplifies leadership, academic success and community service.

Leonard is a Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship recipient, who will earn an Honors Degree with majors in political science and history and a minor in Islamic studies and Arabic language. He ranks in the top 4 percent of his class with a 3.897 GPA.

In addition, Leonard recieved a General Honors Award, an Honors Enrichment Award, an Alumni Enrichment Award and was a Marshall Scholarship finalist. He was also selected as one of 63 Harry S. Truman Scholars; he is just the 12th Truman Scholar from the University since 1990.

Leonard played a major role in reviving UD's Mock Trial chapter and served as a Writing Fellow.

Active in the state's politics, Leonard worked with Gov. Jack Markell as a staff intern. After participating in a UD Study Abroad program in Tunisia, Leonard's political interest extended internationally and he became the first-ever intern for a start-up non-governmental organization called Think Unlimited in Amman, Jordan.