Prize Day winners 2014

Publication Date

Prize Day was held on Saturday, May 10, in Memorial Chapel, followed by a reception on the Reamer Campus Center patio.

Students were honored for achievement in academics, research, service and governance. Among the top awards given were the Josephine Daggett Prize to the senior for conduct and character (Maria Dreeszen) and the Frank Bailey (1885) Prize, to the senior who has rendered the greatest service to the College in any field (Amy Loya).

Academic Awards

WILLIAM F. ALLEN (1895) ESSAY PRIZE – To senior in any department for the best essay.
George Haydock

RONALD K. AMIRAIAN (1980) MEMORIAL PRIZE – To a student of modern languages who has performed with distinction on a Union term abroad.
Max Roehmholdt

ANDREW W. ARCHIBALD (1872) PRIZE – To the senior earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with the highest scholastic standing.
Catherine Ziac

ARNOLD I. BITTLEMAN MEMORIAL PRIZE – To a student who has studied drawing in the Visual Arts Department and whose work, in the judgment of the Visual Arts faculty in collaboration with an outside juror, is outstanding.
Melissa Harvey

FLETCHER (1947) AND GRACE BLANCHARD MEMORIAL PRIZE IN BIOENGINEERING – To a senior who has excelled in Bioengineering.
Sean Day

WILLIAM H. BLOOM (1945), M.D. AND JONATHAN R. BLOOM (1988) POETRY PRIZE – For the best poem or series of poems by an undergraduate.
Teresa Crasto

DAVID BRIND (1982) MEMORIAL PRIZE IN ENGLISH – To one or more outstanding senior students in English.
Samantha Bertschmann, Emily Brower, Teresa Crasto, Thomas Raymond

GEORGE H. CATLIN (1867) PRIZE – To a graduating senior in liberal arts with the highest scholastic record and deemed most promising for graduate study and for eventual service in college teaching.
Melissa Moskowitz

DIVISION OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY AWARD – To a student who has excelled in analytical chemistry.
Hannah Coffin

JOSEPH D. DOTY PRIZE – To the junior or senior who, in the judgment of the Department of History, has done work of outstanding merit.
Shayna Han

SAMUEL S. FEUER (1925) PRIZE – To a senior premedical student with primary interest in dentistry who has maintained the highest scholastic average over four years.
Frank Triana

FRANKEL PRIZE – For outstanding achievement in a religion course.
Marisa Underberger

ROBERT M. FULLER (1863) PRIZES – One to the sophomore, the other to the senior, who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in chemistry.
Michael Morris (senior), Adam Lewis (sophomore)

BRUCE M. GARBER (1971) PRIZE – To the student who best exemplifies the qualities of personal integrity and humane concern for the future practice of medicine or dentistry.
Maria Dreeszen

GENERAL ELECTRIC EDISON MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BOOK PRIZE – To a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.
Jonathan Martin

GENERAL ELECTRIC EDISON MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP PRIZE – To a senior majoring in mechanical engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.
Ashley Johnston

GENERAL ELECTRIC ENERGY STEINMETZ AWARD – To a senior in mechanical engineering who completes the best senior project.
Harrison Bourikas, Melissa Mansfield

GEOLOGY FACULTY PRIZE – To a senior who contributes most to the Geology Department and social morale.
Jordan Thomson

LISA S. GERHAN (1994) MEMORIAL AWARD – For academic excellence, a commitment to the field of psychology, and the potential for future contributions to the field.
Rhea Howard

ASHRAF M. GHALY GEO RESEARCH PRIZE – To the senior who completes the best research study and reports original results in any geo field (geotechnical, geo environmental, geoengineering, geoscience or geospatial).
Alexander Papalian, Dylan Schuck

CELIA GLAUBACH PRIZE – To the student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in the area of religious studies.
Maria Dreeszen

SHANKAR GOKHALE PRIZE – To the senior in engineering, preferably in the five–year program with the second major in economics, judged to have the greatest potential for community service in the area of mathematical approaches to economic problems.
Andrew Danise

GOODNOW NEUROSCIENCE ENDOWED PRIZE – Awarded annually to the graduating neuroscience student who shows the most promise for success in graduate school and beyond.
Alana Curran

HARRY GUTTMAN ENDOWED PRIZE – To an outstanding student of classics.
Emily Brower

JOHN S. HADALA (1928) ENDOWED BOOK PRIZE – To a senior majoring in mechanical engineering on the basis of academic, personal, and social achievement.
Caelan Lapointe

HANS HAINEBACH MEMORIAL PRIZE IN GERMAN LITERATURE – To a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated particular promise as a student of German literature.
Gillian Slavit

HANS HAINEBACH MEMORIAL PRIZE IN JUDAICA – To a student who has offered the best performance in the field of Judaica.
Zachary Ratner, Sara Vicks

EDWARD EVERETT HALE, JR. PRIZE – For the best essay written by a sophomore or junior.
Brianna Caruccio

OSWALD HECK (1924) – IRWIN STEINGUT PRIZE – To the student who has consistently done the best work in political science.
Melissa Moskowitz

EUGENE W. HELLMICH (1923) MEMORIAL PRIZE – To a senior who demonstrate excellence in mathematics and is planning to teach math.
Teresa Crasto

VICTOR HERBERT PRIZE – To the student who shows the most promise of making a contribution to American music.
Andrew Ivarson

JULIAN B. HOFFMAN, M.D., (1966) MEMORIAL AWARD – To the student, preferably premedical, for distinguished interest, devotion, and contribution to the arts and/or intellectual climate at Union College.
Warren Thompson

HOLLANDER CONVOCATION MUSIC PRIZE – To a musician or ensemble for musical performance.
Kaelan Hansson

CHARLES B. HURD PRIZE – To an outstanding student pursuing coursework in physical chemistry.
Isaac Ramphal

ALBERT C. INGHAM (1847) PRIZE – To the student in social sciences judged to have done the most outstanding piece of scholarly work.
Nicholas D’Angelo

INGVAR V. INGVARSSON PRIZE – To a senior in electrical engineering chosen for high scholarship.
Pauline Ochieng

JOHN IWANIK PRIZE – To an outstanding Russian language student.
Sabeha Syeda, Erin Waterman, Catherine Ziac

WILLIAM B. JAFFE (1926) ART AWARD – For exceptional achievement by an art major, marked by excellence in the study of art history, independent scholarship, and interest in the work of the department.
Cosette Shachnow

THOMAS J. JUDSON (1966) MEMORIAL BOOK PRIZE – To a sophomore who has shown academic excellence as well as sincere interest in the study of modern languages.
Austin Burnham

DAVID S. KAPLAN (1982) MEMORIAL PRIZE – To a student applying for a term abroad, with preference to a major in political science.
Davis Cutter

WARNER KING(1906) PRIZE – To the senior in Engineering who has contributed most to the traditions and ideals of the College.
Ashley Johnston

ETHEL KIRCHENBAUM MEMORIAL PRIZE – To the senior who, in the opinion of the Engineering Departments, shall be deemed to possess the best potential for furthering the ideals of the engineering profession.
Sean Day

HAROLD A. LARRABEE PRIZE – To the student who has done the best work in philosophy during the year.
Daniel Pallies

WILLIAM E. LASNIK (1968) PRIZE – To a junior or senior premedical student on the basis of scholarship and character.
Ilyena Kozain

ANTHONY C. LAVECCHIA (1998) MEMORIAL AWARD – Awarded to a student who demonstrates a keen interest and passion in journalism, especially with a focus in political journalism.
Zachary Jonas

STEPHEN F. LEO (1884), M.D., PRIZE – To the student on scholarship who attains the highest grades in the graduating class and who has been accepted in medical school.
Elliot Feld

ALICE P. AND DONALD C. LOUGHRY (1952) PRIZE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE – To the student completing the best senior project in computer science.
Alyssa Wolejko

ALICE P. AND DONALD C. LOUGHRY (1952) PRIZE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING – To the student completing the best senior project in electrical engineering.
Nicholas Brenn

EDITH EMILEE MACCOY PRIZE – To the student who excels in botany.
Kyle Pilkington

JOHN LEWIS MARCH PRIZE – To a senior who has shown increased interest and ability in psychology during the final two years of college.
Rachel Magin

MINERVA PRIZE – To a female student whose work best combines the scholarly study of women or gender with activities that enhance the life of women on campus.
Melissa Moskowitz

LEWIS HENRY MORGAN (1840) PRIZE – To the Anthropology major who produces the best senior thesis.
Ava Carnevale

HAROLD AND ELLEN NAGORSKY MEMORIAL PRIZE – Awarded to a junior premedical student who contributes the most to the Union College community through extracurricular activities.
Evan Leibovitz

ALVIN F. NITCHMAN (1924) PRIZE – To the most promising senior who plans to attend law school.
Gabriella Levine

RONALD M. OBENZINGER (1961) PRIZE – To a premedical student who is selected for high academic merit and personal worthiness.
Cherry Chahal

ROBERT G. O’NEALE (1878) PRIZE – To the senior with the highest standing in classics.
Amanda Weld

HANS PASCH MEMORIAL PRIZE – Awarded for the best essay written about the Holocaust.
Sarah Foster, Sara Vicks

ELIAS PEISSNER PRIZE – To an economics major who has done work of outstanding merit.
Catherine Degen

PRESIDENT’S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN SENIOR SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY AWARD – To a senior who displays outstanding scholarly activity in her field.
Vaishali Parkash

PRESIDENT’S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN SENIOR THESIS PRIZE – To a senior whose senior thesis makes the greatest contribution to scholarship on women.
Robyn Belt, Jasmine Roth

DANIEL F. PULLMAN CLASSICAL PRIZE – To a senior of high scholastic standing in humanities.
Jasmine Roth

DANIEL F. PULLMAN ENGINEERING PRIZE – To a senior of high scholastic standing in engineering.
Kimberly Derosier

RENNES LECTURER/LECTRICE PRIZE – To a senior planning to serve as a lecturer or lectrice pursuant to Union College’s teacher exchange program in Rennes, France.
Jacqueline Massare

MARTIN TERRY RESCH PRIZE – To the senior who shows the greatest promise for advanced study in pure or applied mathematics.
Teresa Crasto, Jordan Hirsh

MRS. EDWIN L. RICH PRIZE – To a student majoring in English who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship.
Emily Brower, Carla Duval

CHARLES ALEXANDER RICHMOND PRIZE IN FINE ARTS – To a student who demonstrates excellence in fine arts or art history.
Christopher Sainato

CHARLES ALEXANDER RICHMOND PRIZE IN MUSIC – To a student who demonstrates excellence in music.
Max Caplan

MARK ROSENTHAL (1976) MEMORIAL PRIZE – To a senior involved in community activities who is planning to attend medical school.
Sarah Rand

ROTARY FOUNDATION ENDOWED PRIZE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDY – To the senior who shows the greatest promise and interest in an area of international relations, with preference to a student from Schenectady County.
MarcAnthony Parrino

ROBERT L. ROYAL (1938) AWARD – To a financially deserving student each year who has been accepted by Albany Medical College.
Neha Pirwani

MORTIMER F. SAYRE PRIZE – To the senior with the best potential for furthering the ideals of the mechanical engineering profession.
Marjorie Chee

DANIEL SHOCKET (1972) MEMORIAL AWARD – To a student majoring in English with a strong interest in creative writing.
Samantha Bertschmann, Teresa Crasto

AIME SIMON (1991) TERM ABROAD PRIZE – To students of high academic standing and promise with strong interests in French studies, participating in a term abroad program in a French–speaking country.
Roswald Morales

EDWARD S.C. SMITH GEOLOGY PRIZE – To a senior, majoring in geology, who demonstrates high professional potential.
Gregory Brenn, Kate Kaminski

FRELING H. SMITH (1865) PRIZE – To the History major with the best senior thesis.
Nicholas D’Angelo

DR. REUBEN SORKIN (1933) AWARD FOR PROFICIENCY IN PREMEDICAL STUDIES – To a senior demonstrating proficiency in undergraduate studies with an outstanding aptitude for continuing work leading to a degree in medicine.
Samantha Tyler

RALPH W. STEARNS (1907) PRIZE – To an outstanding student in electrical or computer engineering.
Steven Stangle

MILTON HYMES STERNFELD (1916) PRIZE – For the best original essay in philosophy by a member of the senior class.
Michelle Goldberg

ROGER THAYER STONE (1928) PRIZE – To the sociology major who produces the best senior thesis.
Maria Apruzzese, Francesca Imgruth, Kathleen Portillo, Jessica Rivetz

WILLIAM W. THOMAS AWARD IN FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES – To a senior who has excelled in and contributed most to French and Francophone Studies on the basis of academic, personal and extracurricular achievement.
Kezia Lawler

JAMES HENRY TURNBULL (1929) PRIZE – To the outstanding sophomore in physics.
Michael Warrener

WESSEL TEN BROECK VAN ORDEN (1839) PRIZE – To the first-year excelling in English composition.
Peter Lanes, Matthew Wu

HORATIO G. WARNER (1826) PRIZE – To a student of high personal character who has the highest scholastic standing in the bachelor of arts program.
Catherine Ziac

GEORGE H. WILLIAMS PRIZE – To a graduating senior for excellence in Computer Science.
Andrew Danise

LEE AND WILLIAM WRUBEL MEMORIAL PRIZE – To a senior preparing for dentistry or medicine, based on academic achievement and character.
Ankur Shah

EUGENE I. YUDIS (1955) PRIZE – To the student who has produced the best piece of prose fiction.
Dorothy Hazan, Rhea Howard

Service Awards

ALAN LAKE CHIDSEY (1925) CITIZENSHIP AWARD – To a senior for distinctive contributions to the advancement of responsible government in student affairs.
A. Richard Harris

CLASS OF 2001 PRIZE – To the junior, on the basis of academic, personal and social achievement and on his or her contributions to Union.
Meghan Creane

JOEL A. HALPERN (1961) PRIZE – To a student or students who have made a commitment in service to the local community.
Sarah Rand

ALBERT HILL RECOGNITION AWARD – To seniors who have held leadership positions and demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing the College community.
A. Richard Harris

ROGER H. HULL COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD – To a senior who has rendered the greatest sustained service to the greater Schenectady community. This award honors a student who has initiated and/or is actively engaged in an ongoing community service project.
Maria Dreeszen

PRESIDENT’S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD – To a student who has contributed significantly to furthering the cause of women at Union College.
Grace Delgado

CALVIN G. SCHMIDT (1951) PRIZE – To the member of the junior class who has contributed most to the betterment of student life on campus.
Benjamin Saperstein

J. RICHARD SHANEBROOK PRIZE – To a student who has contributed the most to the betterment of religious life on campus.
Jasmine Roth

FRANCES TRAVIS AWARD – To a student who is working his or her way through college and who has demonstrated unusual responsibility and self–reliance.
Justin Bogardus

UNITAS COMMUNITY–BUILDING AWARD – To the student, administrator, staff or faculty member who best demonstrates leadership in bringing together the campus community for purposes such as community service, fundraising or celebration of College history.
Kaitlyn Suarez

UNITAS DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AWARD – To the student who has made a significant contribution toward fostering diversity on campus.
Alvaro Peters

College Distinction Awards

JOSEPHINE DAGGETT PRIZE – To a senior for conduct and character.
Maria Dreeszen

FRANK BAILEY (1885) PRIZE – To the senior who has rendered the greatest service to the College in any field.
Amy Loya