The James A. Sartain Award
Dr. Sartain was a professor of sociology from 1963 to 1986. This award was established by the department in 1987 in his memory. Dr. Sartain loved the department, his colleagues, and above all, his students. Education was his mission in life. He received the University’s Distinguished Educator Award in 1986. The Sartain Award is awarded to a graduating senior sociology major who best exemplifies the qualities personified by Dr. Sartain: scholarship, humanitarianism, integrity, and commitment to the ideals of the University of Richmond.
Sartain recipient, Enrique Kotera with Soc 401 students and Dr. Richards on their last day of spring 2024 classes.
Enrique was born in Osaka Japan and moved to Hawaii at the age of nine. In 2019 he travelled to Richmond to attend UR. During his early semesters he took a wide and varying range of courses in search of a major. In the fall of 2022 Enrique enrolled in SOC 101 taught by Dr. Bedelia Richards. This course and Dr. Richards’ teaching put him on the path to obtaining a degree in sociology. Simultaneously, he minored in Japanese. Enrique looks forward to graduating in late December 2024 and the prospect of a rewarding career.