Friday, Feb. 6, the College of William and Mary hosted its annual Charter Day celebration, honoring the recipients of the Thomas Jefferson Award and the James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership. This year, Jason Zheng ’26 was awarded the Monroe Prize on account of his extensive leadership both at the College and in his local community.
Established in 2005, the Monroe Prize highlights a student who exemplifies leadership, initiative, character and an unwavering dedication to addressing community needs.
“When I think about this prize itself, I recognize that it’s not mine alone,” Zheng said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things that I thought about, especially when it comes to the recognition side of it, because it’s the product of my communities, it’s the product of my friends who have been my biggest cheerleaders, it’s the product of my family who’ve been incredible role models.”
Zheng’s passion for civic engagement aligns with the College’s initiatives for the 2026 Year of Civic Leadership, including the Democracy Scholars Program. Zheng recalled a conversation with associate teaching professor of government Rebekah Sterling, who is launching the program.
“I think that will also be an incredible addition to our campus community,” Zheng said. “Democracy isn’t something that’s just about the government. It’s about civic contributions.”
Zheng also helped develop the Better Arguments framework at the College, an initiative that helps foster civil dialogue.
Zheng’s fervor for civic contribution stems from his childhood in Virginia Beach, Va., where his parents owned a small restaurant.
“I’m grateful to be from Virginia Beach. That’s one of the biggest cities in Virginia. And that has always been a place where people have looked out for each other,” Zheng said. “So for me, civic leadership has always been about giving back.”
Today, Zheng is a Student Assembly senator, a law research fellow and a Sharpe Community Scholar. He also works as a resident assistant, a teaching assistant, a representative to the Student Conduct and Appeals Board, the director of the College’s Courageous Leadership Institute and more.
As a Student Assembly senator, Zheng proposed six of the twelve bills passed last year, particularly championing food security.
“A lot of work that I’ve done has been very focused on that advocacy-based work of what students need,” Zheng said.
Zheng also served as the associate commissioner for the Independent Elections Committee his freshman year.
“Most of what I did at the time was really helping create the framework for us to do ranked-choice voting,” Zheng said.
Zheng became the chair of the IEC his sophomore year. Afterward, he served as a member of the Review Board, helping uphold the Student Assembly Code.
Zheng said Class of 2026 President Debbie Ho ’26 influenced his decision to run for senator at the end of his junior year.
“If it wasn’t for her encouragement, I don’t think I would have considered running at all,” Zheng said. “I think that level of confidence she had in me and what I could help accomplish on this campus meant so much so that I was willing to at least put my name in the hat for candidacy.”
Zheng encouraged other students to consider running for Student Assembly.
“I think student government can be a vehicle for a lot of good, especially when it comes to how we think about our community, how we can serve others,” he said. “William and Mary is a small campus, but more often than not, the school requires and encourages us to help each other out a little more.”
Outside of the College’s bounds, Zheng has spearheaded efforts to increase voter registration, combat food insecurity and assist individuals facing eviction. All of this work has prepared him for a future in law and public policy.
“The work that I see myself doing after graduating is very much focused on serving communities in the public sector,” Zheng said.
Zheng said he often feels hesitant when applying for awards such as the Monroe Prize or other kinds of recognition.
“I think the big thing is it never hurts to try. And that’s something I tell a lot of my friends,” Zheng said. “And regardless of whether or not you think your work is worth talking about, I think it always is putting a spotlight on what you’re doing and having at least somebody know that you’re doing something that is meaningful to you.”
Zheng also urged people to remain optimistic while encouraging improvement and growth.
“I think you can always find ways to participate and to help in the right places,” Zheng said. “I think it’s very easy to get caught up in the big ideas that everything is, for lack of better words, going horribly, and that there’s more reason to be pessimistic than optimistic.”
