Chip Peterson ’21 Awarded Rev. B.W. "Pete" Woodward, Jr. Prize

Summer is the perfect time to reflect on how Holderness School prepares its students for life after graduation. Perhaps the best way to do so is to recognize the recipient of this year’s Rev. B.W. “Pete” Woodward, Jr. Prize, given annually at Commencement to a Holderness graduate in their junior year of college for their academic performance, exceptional leadership, and contributions to their college community. 

This year’s recipient of the Rev. B.W. “Pete” Woodward, Jr. Prize is Chip Peterson ’21, a junior at the University of Michigan who stands out for his academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to service. A double major in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, he maintains an impressive 3.87 GPA and earned the title of James B. Angell Scholar for two consecutive semesters of straight A's.

Peterson is the lead pledge captain of the BUX Christian Fraternity, a dry-house faith-based brotherhood, where he recruited the largest pledge class in recent years. He also helped establish a new chapter at North Carolina State University to expand BUX's mission.

His passion for service is evident through his work with Filter of Hope, installing water purification systems for families in Cuba during his sophomore spring break. Additionally, he volunteers with Redefined, a Christian service organization that tutors local elementary students, and sings in ‘Good News a Cappella,’ a faith-based musical group on campus.

With a focus on science, he has spent two summers interning at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, writing Python scripts to automate simulation processes for research at the National Ignition Facility. He presented his findings at the 2022 LaserNetUS User’s Meeting and worked as a research assistant at Michigan's Plasma, Pulsed Power, and Microwave Laboratory and the Center for Laboratory Astrophysics.

Peterson’s academic achievements, commitment to service, and leadership exemplify the values of a Holderness graduate, making him a worthy award recipient. We wish him continued success in college and beyond!