Jefferson Matthew Case '99
(Awarded 2009)

The Young Alumni Service Award recognizes a young alumnus within the first ten years of his or her graduation date for exceptional service to the college, and in turn serving as inspiration for others to the same high standard. Today we are proud to recognize Jefferson Matthew Case from the Class of 1999.

From the moment that Jeff Case arrived on campus as a first-year student, one would have thought that he had been born a Wildcat. The fact is, he was. The son of James Marshall Case ’72 and Dr. Verna Miller Case, Beverly F. Dolan Professor of Biology, the brother of Jordan Case ’03, and the husband of Lisa Green Case ’99, Jeff grew up in Davidson, and in many ways, has never left. Davidson is a part of his family as much as his family is a part of Davidson. On his application for admission, in the fall of 1994, Jeff answered the question “How did you first hear about Davidson?” with, “Well, I have been sitting in on classes since before I could walk.”

While at Davidson he was fully immersed: he tutored students in economics, played 2 years of JV soccer, serving as captain his sophomore year, and 4 years of varsity baseball. Jeff spent a semester abroad, studying economics through Kent State University in Geneva, Switzerland, and graduated with an AB in Economics. He later earned a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in June of 2006, and is currently a Principal at Advent International, a private equity firm based in Boston.

Jeff’s service to Davidson has been steadfast, always answering the call when Davidson looked to him for help. He served as Co-President of the Boston Young Alumni Chapter from 2003 to 2006, organizing and leading chapter events in Boston. He and his wife Lisa are currently serving as Co- Vice Chairs of the Young Alumni Ne Ultra Society, and are ambassadors for the college, the Annual Fund, and the Ne Ultra Society. In these roles they assist the college with the solicitation and stewardship of young alumni, strengthening Davidson for current and future students.  Jeff and Lisa will serve as Co-Chairs for the Young Alumni Ne Ultra Society in the coming year.

Jeff was also a leader in helping Davidson rewrite its rules regarding the establishment of scholarships on campus. It was his creativity and thoughtfulness in 2003 that changed the way Davidson engaged young alumni in supporting athletics at Davidson, opening the door for many to get involved in meaningful ways – a model that is currently being used in support of The Davidson Trust.

For his personal and professional achievements, for his unwavering efforts to support Davidson in new and creative ways, for his encouragement of others to join him in those efforts, for his intelligence, leadership, and the example of service he sets for others to follow, the Davidson College Alumni Association honors Jefferson Matthew Case with the Young Alumni Service Award on the occasion of his 10^th Reunion this 25^th day of April, 2009.