Michael Abrams, a graduating senior with a major in English and minors in History and Film & Media Studies, was selected as the recipient of the 2016 Thomas Penfield Jackson Award for Civic Responsibility and Democratic Citizenship. Michael has published a history paper in Proto, an undergraduate research journal, and has given research presentations at Georgetown and Princeton Universities.

As a past recipient of the William Donald Schaefer Legislative Internship, Michael has served as a St. Mary’s College of Maryland liaison to the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. He continued his advocacy work as an intern in the ACLU of Maryland’s Office of Public Policy. Michael is a varsity swimmer and enjoyed being a member of the SMCM Ethics Bowl team. After graduating, he plans to attend law school in the fall of 2016.