Two Jepson alumni and the School's benefactors honored with awards during Reunion Weekend 2014
The benefactors of the nation’s first undergraduate school of leadership studies and two Jepson School alumni received awards during Reunion Weekend May 30-June 1.
Dean Sandra J. Peart presented awards to Matthew B. Zemon, ’94, CEO of American Support, and benefactors Robert S. Jepson, Jr., B’64, GB’75, H’87, and Alice Andrews Jepson. Timothy M. Bezbatchenko, ’04, general manager of major league soccer franchise Toronto FC, was unable to attend but was honored with an award. The School also unveiled a portrait of Robert and Alice Jepson that will hang in Jepson Hall.
“It’s a joy to celebrate the successes of our alumni who seek in a multitude of different ways to accomplish a common aim: to improve the world. While both Matt and Tim are professionally successful, one in sports and the other in business, they also have given much of their time and talent in areas of service,” said Peart. “And Bob and Alice have lived the lives we teach our students about—lives of consequence, integrity, and generosity.”
Zemon received an award given for the first time. He was honored with the Jepson School of Leadership Studies Alumni Award.
“Since the Jepson School turned twenty recently, it is appropriate to recognize that our alumni are moving through different stages of their professional and personal lives,” said Peart.
Matthew B. Zemon, ’94, founder, president and CEO of American Support, Jepson School of Leadership Studies Alumni Award. The award is presented to someone who graduated from Jepson at least 20 years ago and acknowledges significant accomplishments that reflect the mission of the Jepson School. Under Zemon's leadership, the company was named one of the “Top 10 Places in the Cable Industry to Work” by CableFax magazine. Zemon also is co-president of Jobs4America, a coalition of businesses working together to create 100,000 U.S.-based jobs and is Entrepreneur in Residence for the national Military Spouse Network. His other business ventures have included founding Red Sky Productions, which provided talent for and produced Broadway’s “Annie Get Your Gun” and founding The Brand Factory, which provided marketing services to governments and tour operators in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.
Timothy M. Bezbatchenko, ’04, general manager of Toronto FC, Jepson School of Leadership Studies Tenth Year Alumni Award. The award is presented to one or more Jepson School graduates of the last decade who have exhibited exemplary qualities of professional and/or scholarly achievement or community/public service. Bezbatchenko has made a number of key acquisitions through signings and trades. Previously, he was senior director of player relations and competition with MLS and an attorney with Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, where he worked in the mergers and acquisitions group.
Robert S. Jepson, Jr. and Alice Andrews Jepson, the School’s benefactors, Jepson School Award for Leadership and Service. The award is presented to a person or persons who have taken an active role in community life and set an example for others, and whose actions reflect the mission of the Jepson School. Robert Jepson is chair and CEO of Jepson Associates Inc., a private investment firm he founded in 1989. He is former head of The Jepson Corporation, a NYSE-listed, Fortune 500 diversified manufacturing conglomerate. He has served on numerous corporate boards and the University of Richmond Board of Trustees. Alice Jepson is an ardent arts and education advocate who holds undergraduate and honorary degrees from the University of Mary Washington. She is chair of the board of the Telfair Museums in Savannah, serves on the Savannah Philanthropic Advisory Board and is a founding member of The Children’s Hospital Charter Circle at Memorial University Medical Center.