Del. Howard "Pete" Rawlings received the President's Medal at a June 2 ceremony at the Johns Hopkins Club on the Homewood campus. Rawlings, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was being honored for a quarter of a century's worth of public service and, in particular, his ardent support of higher education and "extraordinary record of achievement on behalf of all the students of Maryland."

President William R. Brody honors Del. Pete Rawlings with a Presidential Medal in recognition of his longtime support of higher education.

Since 1994, Rawlings has chaired the Committee on Postsecondary Education of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. He also has represented Maryland on the Steering Committee of the Education Commission of the States, and serves on its executive committee.

Instituted in 1978, the President's Medal of the university is an honor extended by discretion of the president to individuals who have achieved unusual distinction. It has been awarded to heads of state, members of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court, diplomats, literary figures, academics, corporate chief executives and other distinguished individuals.

In attendance at the ceremony were senior administration, deans, members of the university and JHM boards of trustees, local business leaders, elected officials and members of Rawlings' family.