One of our most joyous Thouron Award traditions was held earlier this year, the Annual Scarf and Tie Ceremony, to honour our 2026 American and 2025 British Scholars. The Thouron Family, Scholars, and Alumni gathered together at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, enjoying reconnections, introductions, and reminiscence in one of the many beautiful rooms along the conservatory.
As a beloved tradition, the Scarf and Tie Ceremony has remained a wonderful time for our Thouron community to gather together, year after year. For Alumni, it is a chance for them to don their scarves and ties while connecting with the new Scholars, and for the Scholars it is an opportunity for them to meet each other as Americans and Brits merging on the same journey.
This year’s ceremony was no less spectacular than the last. On 9 May, 2026, the evening began with plenty of time for our attendees to enjoy the scenery at the gardens. From the main entrance of Longwood, they walked to the conservatory, taking in the luscious and incredible landscape the gardens offer its visitors. Once inside the conservatory, the Thouron Family, Scholars, and Alumni headed to the Music Room while surrounded by nothing but rich greenery and pristine blooms.
A Golden Cocktail Hour
Sparing no extravagance, the ceremony’s cocktail reception began on the patio outside of the Music Room. We care deeply about connection and fellowship as a community, so naturally this served as a terrific opportunity for everyone to catch up and greet new faces. A better backdrop could not have been arranged for the event than the golden hour we were graced with, adding warmth to this convivial evening.
Though our newest American and British Scholars were not the only ones receiving rightful praise this evening. This year, the 2025 British Scholars enthusiastically presented Rupert Thouron and Rachel Thouron Vere Nicoll with a most thoughtful gift: a scrapbook filled with photos and memories of the Scholars’ time in the United States!
Needless to say, Rupert and Rachel were very touched by the gesture and everyone gathered around the reception’s hightop tables to reminisce, laugh, and rejoice at the anecdotes in the scrapbook. These are the things and moments that truly make our Award a family affair.
Dinner in the Music Room
As the sun began to set, everyone moved inside to the Music Room for dinner service. Per tradition, this is one of the moments where everyone has time to learn more about the others seated with them at their tables. Unsurprisingly, the stories and connections that come out of these dinners never cease to amaze anyone in attendance.
One incredible story overheard during dinner: Joshua Liu (Am’26), who will study as a Scholar at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, was seated next to Rupert’s wife, Jan Thouron, who was wearing a white silk jacket — a treasured Thouron family heirloom. They discovered during their conversation that her jacket is made of fine silks exported from the same part of China where Joshua grew up as a child! Moments like this one are what these ceremonial dinners are all about.
Moreover, the older Thourons in attendance were ecstatic to see Carole Clarke at the Scarf and Tie Ceremony. She was the Award’s administrator for many decades. Over the years, many individuals have served as administrative staff for the Award. We’re always honoured to see the warm connections that form between our Alumni and administrators.
The Scarf and Tie Ceremony
The ceremony would have been remiss without remarks from Rupert about how the scarves and ties came to be such an important tradition for the Award. John Julius Thouron, who was known lovingly as “Tiger,” hand-drew the British lion and American eagle that you see printed on the scarves and ties today — and presented them to Scholars for the first time at a similar ceremony in 1975.
Tiger sent the drawing away with the idea that the design professionals would polish and expand upon his illustrations. Little did he know, the designers would simply print the exact drawings Tiger sent over onto the scarves and ties. And thus, the tradition continues today that Thouron Scholars are presented with scarves and ties adorned with the original illustrations.
Learn more about Tiger and the history of the illustration
A Fountain Show to End the Night
Once all scarves and ties had been distributed to the Scholars, guests proceeded to the Overlook at Longwood Gardens, where reserved seating allowed them to revel in the Illuminated Fountain Show. It was positively a lovely ending to a fabulous night worth remembering.
What Could Your Future Look Like as a Thouron Scholar?
Learn more about the Thouron Award — one of the most prestigious and generous academic scholarships in the world, offering funding and cultural exchange between the University of Pennsylvania and U.K. institutions.
Applications for the Award are open from July to October for candidates from Penn and July to November for U.K. candidates.