White House honors Justin Richard

White House honors Justin Richard

Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON — On May 8, Cindy Richard of Templeton watched from her classroom in Worcester with her students as her son Justin Richard  crossed a gold-backed stage at the White House to accept an award from First Lady Michelle Obama on behalf of the Mystic Aquarium.

“It was a moment that I couldn’t imagine,” Ms. Richard said. “A small town boy from Templeton talking and conversing with the First Lady at the White House.”

Growing up in Baldwinville and graduating from Narragansett High School, Mr. Richard never imagined his interests would ever lead him to the White House.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have the support and opportunities to make this happen,” he said.

Courtesy Photo

Justin Richard, left, accepts an award on behalf of Mystic Aquarium along with Aquarium President and CEO Dr. Stephen M. Coan, middle, from First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House in early May.


The National Medal for Museum and Library Services is presented every year to 10 libraries and museums around the country for their outstanding efforts to educate the public and is considered to be the most prestigious award those institutions can receive.

“You are all redefining what it means to be a museum or a library in the 21st century,” the First Lady said in a speech.

Each museum or library typically sends a representative of their community to accept the award at the White House and Mr. Richard said it was an honor to be selected along with Mystic Aquarium President and CEO Dr. Stephen M. Coan.

“I absolutely would not be doing any of this without Mystic Aquarium,” he commented.

For Mr. Richard, the award represents the culmination of years of hard work and research that has taken him all over the world to study marine mammals. After graduating as the valedictorian from Narragansett in 1999, he set off for Connecticut College where a chance volunteer position led to incredible opportunities.

“I got my feet wet at Mystic Aquarium when I was an undergrad,” he said.

Mr. Richard worked with the aquarium’s four Beluga whales as a trainer for eight years. During that time he was also able to pursue his own research on the elusive animals.

“I realized there were a lot of questions out there that we can really work to answer,” he explained.

After completing research stints in Alaska and Canada studying the health of wild Beluga populations, Mr. Richard took a break from whales to investigate an exploding population of Gray Seals off of the Nantucket coast. Currently, Mr. Richard says his research focuses on developing minimally invasive ways to monitor the whales in their wild habitat.

Ms. Richard said she was immensely proud of everything her son has accomplished and the work he is doing to educate children and preserve a species.

“It’s just been unbelievable what he’s been able to do to help,” she said.

Mr. Richard said he soon hopes to wrap up his Ph.D studies at the University of Rhode Island.