When Mats Lemberger '06 arrived in the McCulloch Lounge Thursday, he didn't know he'd be receiving an award. He showed up in a flannel shirt wielding his guitar and harmonica for an English Department forum on Bob Dylan's music, as his friends led him to believe. Instead he found administrators, his parents and friends waiting to congratulate him as this year's surprise recipient of The Ranny B. Cardozo Prize for Most Outstanding Junior.
"He sort of looked around, and started smiling really widely like he does," close friend Jennifer Goransson '05 said. "Dean Gomez came up and said, 'Congratulations, Mats.' It was kind of surreal."
A panel of eight seniors, including last year's prize winner, narrowed down the pool of 12 nominees over a five-week period. They chose Lemberger as "the outstanding member of the junior class who most exemplifies Ranny B. Cardozo's academic enthusiasm, genuine concern for fellow classmates, and energetic participation in campus and community activities," according to the prize's official description. The award was established by classmates, parents and friends of Ranny Cardozo '78, who died during his junior year at the College.
"Mats was someone everyone was excited about the whole time," former prize recipient Sabrina Singh '05 said.
Dean of the College James Larimore gave a speech in Lemberger's honor. Afterwards, with the help of Singh and '06 Class Dean Teoby Gomez, he presented Lemberger with a letter, check and silver platter. Lemberger's name will be inscribed on a plaque in the Dean's office alongside other Cardozo Prize recipients.
Lemberger, former Student Assembly student activities chair and presidential candidate, has participated in a number of community service ventures during his time at the College. Described by his mother Lam as "humble" and "a very sincere, compassionate human being," Lemberger began his commitment to community service long before he arrived at Dartmouth.
At his Quaker high school, "service was considered an integral part of education," Lemberger said. "That's been an enduring part of my life."
The summer after his freshman year of college, Lemberger bicycled 4,000 miles across the country for the Bike and Build program to help raise $40,000 for an Upper Valley home. He has served as a chairperson of the Habitat for Humanity, vice president of the Green Key Society and volunteered consistently for the Tucker Foundation -- all while maintaining a high GPA.
He is perhaps best known for pioneering the creation of the Festival of Humanity, held during Green Key Weekend, a fundraising event with live performances that combines his passions for service and music.
Lemberger further pursued these passions by working as an intern for the Music Maker Relief Foundation in Hillsborough, N.C., to help provide elderly musical artists living in poverty with financial and medical assistance. Lemberger said he'd like to bring some of the artists to campus next year for a workshop where they can share their music and stories.
"Music is very important to him," his mother said. "He looks at life like a song."
Attendees at his award reception got a taste of Lemberger's own musical talent when he sang Bob Dylan's "Buckets of Rain" and "Tangled up in Blue," while playing his guitar and harmonica.
"You might be able to tell I really love Bob Dylan's music," he said between songs. Attendees of the reception applauded him enthusiastically at the end of each performance.
Lemberger said his friends "sure knew his soft spot," and that pretending the reception was a forum on Bob Dylan was the best way to get him to come.
Lemberger said he felt "all kinds of emotions at once" when he realized the true reason for the gathering.
"It was a completely special, wonderful surprise," he said.
