Rosemary Thurber ’25 has received the 2025 Alton F. Pfaff Cup, Warren Wilson College’s highest honor given to a graduating senior.

During her eight semesters at Warren Wilson, Thurber has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to academic inquiry, community engagement, and hands-on work. She majored in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Education, and completed two senior capstone projects—one focused on creating a climate resilience program for teens in agricultural communities, and another that explored post-hurricane resilience through community gatherings around herbalism.

Thurber received multiple campus awards and scholarships throughout her time at Wilson, including the General Work Award and the French Broad River Garden Club Scholarship in 2024, and the Margery Iseman Craft Scholarship and Wingate Craft Scholarship in earlier years. She also represented Warren Wilson in the New York Times in spring 2025.

In summer 2023, Thurber completed a Garden Crew internship, where she played a key role in food production, vehicle maintenance, bouquet making, and organizing faculty and donor events. In spring 2023, she interned with Fern Way Farm & Forest, where she developed environmental education curricula tailored for neurodiverse learners and transformed an old shed into an educational hub.

She studied abroad twice—first in France as part of a climate crisis course in 2022, and most recently in Ireland in 2024. In addition to her capstones, she contributed to research in ecology and botany courses and assisted chef Gavin Baker with his graduate research on sustainable culinary innovation. With Baker, she and a team of peers co-hosted three ReHarvest events, creating and giving away food made from “hyperlocal” ingredients harvested within a two mile radius of WWC.

A respected leader on the Herb Crew, Thurber mentored new members, developed workflows, and led the creation of a peer mentorship model she called “Companion Plants.” She also served as the primary organizer of the annual Winter Sale, collaborating with over 20 campus crews to create a large-scale craft market that she led through multiple years—including during a hurricane recovery semester.

After the hurricane disrupted Garden Crew in fall 2024, Thurber stepped in to lead First-Year Seminar classes while a new adjunct professor onboarded. She guided students through post-disaster reflection and food justice discussions, and collaborated closely with the new instructor while they navigated the Wilson experience throughout the semester.

Beyond her work and academics, Thurber has demonstrated a deep commitment to service and campus life. She co-led a spring break trip for flood recovery in Letcher County, Kentucky; coordinated a campus partnership with Equal Plates Project after the hurricane; and contributed to local community organizations including Hearts With Hands, Bounty & Soul, 12 Baskets Café, and Hands On Asheville.

She also served as a Student Trustee, participated on multiple college committees—including the Work Program Advisory and Strategic Action Committees—and supported international students through transportation, mentorship, and club leadership. As a co-organizer of Ecstatic Dance and facilitator of many campus workshops on herbalism and pollinators, she brought people together through both education and celebration.

“I’ve had the chance to do some sort of work that is real every single day at Wilson,” Thurber said. “I’ve found fulfillment in a mulch pile, in delivering crates of donated squash, and in hours of writing environmental education curricula. These experiences opened my mind, filled my heart, and made me more prepared to tackle my next challenge.”

Faculty, staff, and peers praised Thurber for her grounded leadership, collaborative spirit, and ability to build community through intention, reflection, and creativity.

Since 1942, the Alton F. Pfaff Cup has been awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates integrity, common sense, a willingness to work, and a commitment to growth and progress. Pfaff was a 1929 graduate of the Asheville Farm School and later served as president of the Warren Wilson College Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Trustees.

The Pfaff Cup is awarded to students who excel in all areas of the College’s academic program—academics, work, community engagement, and campus life. Nominations are solicited from the community, and a committee of faculty and staff selects a finalist to appear on a ballot voted on by employees.