U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will be honored by Bryn Mawr College and will be awarded with the The Katharine Hepburn Medal.

The announcement was made this Tuesday by College President Kim Cassidy during a ceremony marking the start of the academic year.

“As the first Hispanic and third female Supreme Court justice, Justice Sotomayor is truly a trailblazer,” Cassidy said. “Her twenty-year commitment to the federal judiciary reveals her unwavering commitment both to public service and the importance of the legal system in our society and exemplifies the attributes deserving of the Hepburn Medal.”   

According to the university, the Katharine Hepburn Medal recognizes women who change their worlds: those whose lives, work, and contributions embody the intelligence, drive, and independence of the four-time Oscar winner and her namesake mother, an early feminist activist, who graduated in 1928 and 1900, respectively.

“Justice Sotomayor’s many opinions from the bench, whether in the majority or expressing critical interests from a dissent, exhibit wisdom, an unflinching commitment to justice, and a fundamental dedication to real equality in our diverse society,” Cassidy said. “In these and other ways, Justice Sotomayor truly embodies the Hepburn spirit.”

The medal will be awarded at Bryn Mawr College April 17.