Cameryn Lonsway ’24 Honored as a 2022 Anderson Scholar
Honoring Character and Outstanding Achievement Cameryn Lonsway ’24, one of this year's two scholarship recipients, poses with Betsy Anderson and Dean A. Benjamin Spencer and a portrait of the late Alvin Anderson during TowneBank’s 2022 Alvin P. Anderson Scholars reception. Photo by David F. Morrill
William & Mary Law student Cameryn Lonsway ’24 was honored as one of TowneBank’s 2022 Alvin P. Anderson Scholars on Sept. 13. Lonsway and undergraduate business major Miguel Abradu-Otoo ’23 each received a $5,000 scholarship and an inscribed crystal vase at a reception held at the bank’s Monticello Avenue office in Williamsburg.
The scholarships were first awarded in 2010 to honor the late Alvin P. Anderson, who graduated from William & Mary in 1970 and William & Mary Law School in 1972.
During the reception, Anderson’s wife, Betsy Calvo Anderson B.A. ’70, HON ’15, P ’00, a former Trustee of the William & Mary Law School Foundation, remembered her husband for the personal qualities that set him apart.
“First and foremost, he had unimpeachable integrity and ethics; his word was his bond, and he followed through on promises made, never even approaching a questionable move or decision,” Anderson said. “He took his commitments very seriously, and was an old fashioned gentleman who cared about the people around him and was a wonderful mentor to those coming up behind him.”
A. Benjamin Spencer, Dean and Trustee Professor at William & Mary Law School, said that there was lots to celebrate with Lonsway as this year’s Anderson Scholar.
“Cameryn has said she strives to live her life with an enthusiasm and devotion for the people and principles that she believe in—just like Alvin Anderson did,” Spencer said. “Looking at her accomplishments, I believe her.”
At 18 years old, Lonsway realized that small town life in Ohio had limited her to only a fraction of the world, and she felt compelled to learn about different cultures and viewpoints that would allow her to develop and reevaluate her own opinions. So she moved to Washington, D.C., to attend The George Washington University and study abroad in Ecuador and Argentina.
Upon graduation with a major in International Affairs and Political Science, she moved to Medellín, Colombia, on a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English at the national public university.
Despite a really busy schedule in both high school and college, Lonsway always made time for athletics and volunteer work. In high school, she was voted captain of all three of her varsity sports during her junior year. In college, she was voted team captain, while also serving as head coach of a local high school’s varsity field hockey squad.
Having family members who fought cancer, she also volunteered with the Melanoma Research Foundation and fundraised to support cancer research.
At William & Mary Law, Lonsway joined the Women’s Law Society and the International Law Society, and was appointed a junior editor of the Comparative Jurist online journal.
Not surprisingly, her experiences abroad have inspired Lonsway to pursue a career in international Law within the field of anti-corruption regulatory enforcement. She wants to promote compliance with anti-corruption and anti-money laundering legislation and play a role in global economic development and the promotion of peace between nations.
“Cameryn is an inspiration to us all, and the reason I work hard to make the Law School even better for her and others like her,” Spencer said. “Just as important, she is an excellent testament to Alvin’s legacy, and the perfect choice for this year’s Anderson Scholar.”
About Alvin Anderson
Alvin Anderson was a managing partner at Kaufman & Canoles. In addition to serving others through his 36-year law career, Anderson contributed to his community in numerous ways. He was the director of both the Riverside Healthcare Association and Hampton Roads Academy, and he served on multiple TowneBank boards: Hampton Roads, Peninsula, and Williamsburg. Additionally, Anderson was the commissioner in chancery and the commissioner of accounts for the circuit courts of the City of Williamsburg and James City County.
In 1998, he received the William & Mary Alumni Medallion for his professional achievements and outstanding commitment to William & Mary. Anderson served his alma mater in many ways—as a member of the College’s Board of Visitors, as a trustee of the Law School Foundation, and as president of the Alumni Association.
About William & Mary Law School
Thomas Jefferson founded William & Mary Law School in 1779 to train leaders for the new nation. Now in its third century, America’s first law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.