Casteen surprised with McIntire award

Retiring University of Virginia President John T. Casteen III walked in to give a speech and walked out with the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s highest award given to a local resident.
Casteen, the keynote speaker at the chamber’s 96th-annual dinner, received the Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award for outstanding contributions to the area.
“I’m just going to say thank you,” Casteen said, addressing the 400-some Charlottesville business leaders in attendance Wednesday night as he received the award.
The chamber established the award in 1975 in honor of Paul Goodloe McIntire, who chamber officials said set a standard of service to the community while weaving “a fabric of selflessness that continues to provide for our community and its citizens.”

“From day one of his exemplary 20-year stewardship of Mr. Jefferson’s university, [Casteen] has embraced, engaged and energized our greater Charlottesville community, civic organizations, businesses and our fellow citizens,” said Christopher Lee, of Piedmont Virginia Cos., who chaired the chamber’s Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award Committee. “We are honored to honor him.”
Casteen will end his 20-year tenure at UVa when he retires in August. As reasons for the award, chamber officials point to Casteen shepherding UVa into a $1.2 billion economic engine in the community, implementing the university’s financial aid program called AccessUVa and supervising two of the most ambitious fundraising campaigns in the country.

Casteen also led UVa’s restructuring to achieve more autonomy from state policies in hiring, construction and fundraising, and he presided over the creation of the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, the first new school at UVa in 50 years.
In his keynote address to the Chamber of Commerce members, Casteen said that the Charlottesville area has the potential to be a leader in meeting the world’s coming challenges, such as the need to find alternative and sustainable sources of energy.

Between researchers at UVa and the Charlottesville area’s entrepreneurship, he said, the region could be a national leader in ingenuity and determination.
“It’s time for a new American renaissance,” Casteen said. “Let this area be the one that leads. Then let’s see what we can do for the rest of the country.”
Leonard W. Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operating officer for UVa, is a former McIntire award winner. He said Casteen’s efforts to make higher education opportunities available to local residents, including creating the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program, is another reason his colleague deserves the award.
“John has spent his life in support of public education and has chosen to make a difference by making sure educational opportunities are there and second to none,” Sandridge said. “In these difficult economic times, he has also recognized that it’s important for this institution to not implement a layoff program. We depend on a loyal workforce, and it’s important to provide for them as best as possible.”

Casteen’s selection was quick and unanimous, said Timothy Hulbert, chamber president.
“Committee members got to talking and they realized that Casteen was the guest speaker, that he was retiring and that he’s done so much for the community over the past two decades and decided he deserved it,” Hulbert said. “It was probably the quickest decision ever made for the award.”

Daily Progress staff writer Brian McNeill contributed to this story.