SCHOLARSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP
The Addison Brown Scholarship from a fund established by Addison Brown of the Class of 1852, is awarded to that senior who, being already on the scholarship list, has attained the highest standing in the studies of the freshman, sophomore and junior years.
Samantha Liu
The Charles Hamilton Houston Fellowship is awarded to a graduating senior who best personifies a commitment to realizing his or her humane ideals, much in the way Charles Houston, Class of 1915, devoted his life to the struggle for equal protection under the law for African-Americans in the United States.
Divided between: Claire Monroe Hawthorne and Jeremy N. Thomas
The Howard Hill Mossman Trophy, awarded annually to the member of the senior class who has brought, during their four years at Amherst, the greatest honor in athletics to the Alma Mater--the word “honor” to be interpreted as relating both to achievement and to sportsmanship.
Lindsey Victoria Ruderman
The Psi Upsilon Prize was established by the Gamma Chapter of Psi Upsilon in 1941 on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Chapter. The prize is awarded to that member of the graduating class who is considered preeminent in scholarship, leadership, athletics and character.
Divided among: Isabella Rosina Edo, Sophia Isabelle Friedman, Sarah Gayer, Ella Taylor Rossa, and Lindsey Victoria Ruderman
The David Kirp ’65 Stonewall Prize, established by David L. Kirp ’65 and other alumni, is awarded annually to that student who produces a work of exceptional intellectual or artistic merit pertaining to the queer, bisexual, intersex, gay, lesbian, or transgender experience.
Luke David Williamson
The Thomas H. Wyman 1951 Medal, established in 2003 by his classmates, is awarded to that member of the senior class who best represents the highest standards in scholarship, athletics, and/or extracurricular activities, community service, integrity, character and humanism.
Sabrina Lin
AMERICAN STUDIES
The Doshisha American Studies Prize, a gift from Amherst House, Doshisha University, is awarded for the American studies honors thesis judged by the Department as most likely to stimulate interest in and understanding of America overseas—with a view toward possible publication in Japan.
Divided among: Catherine Grace Burkhart, Lauren Christiane Lamb and Matthew Sanders
The George Rogers Taylor Prize is awarded to the student who, in the opinion of the department, shows the most promise for creative and scholarly work in American Studies.
Matthew Sanders
ANTHROPOLOGY/SOCIOLOGY
The Donald S. Pitkin Prize in Anthropology-Sociology, established in honor of the founder of that department on the occasion of his retirement, is given to that student whose honors thesis best exemplifies the humane values to which Professor Pitkin committed his research and teaching.
Jacob Joseph Siegel
ARCHITECTURE
The Architectural Studies Prize is awarded to the honors thesis judged best by the Program for its qualities of clarity and originality in affirming the interdisciplinary richness of architecture.
Dana Christine Kulma
ART AND THE HISTORY OF ART
The Hasse Prize, established in memory of Adrian H. Hasse ’43, is awarded for the best submitted work having a human figure as a theme.
Julian Taylor Raiford
The Anna Baker Heap Prize, established by Arnold N. Heap of the Class of 1873, is awarded to that senior who submits the best essay in the field of "art."
Divided between: Arielle Jasmin Kirven and Julia Catherine Molin
ASIAN LANGUAGES AND CIVILIZATIONS
The Doshisha Asian Studies Prize from the income of a gift from Amherst House, Doshisha University, is awarded for the best undergraduate honors thesis pertaining to Asia.
Divided between: Xinyi Ma and Sabir Meah
ATHLETICS
The Manstein Family Award, given by Carl ’72, Mark ’74 and Joanne Manstein ’83, is presented to the outstanding senior varsity athlete who intends to pursue a career in medicine or a medical field. The prize is awarded by the Department of Physical Education.
Julia Elizabeth Ralph
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
The Biochemistry And Biophysics Prize is awarded to the student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has prepared the best thesis in the Biochemistry and Biophysics program.
Jasper Flint
BIOLOGY
The Oscar E. Schotté Award is given to that member of the graduating class who, in the opinion of the department, has done the best independent work in biology.
Samantha Liu
BLACK STUDIES
The Edward Jones Prize is given in honor of the College’s first Black alumnus. It is awarded by the Black Studies Department to a graduating senior for the best honors thesis which addresses a present or future issue of concern to Black people in Africa and the Diaspora.
Djelimory N’fa Diabate
CHEMISTRY
The Howard Waters Doughty Prize is awarded to that member of the senior class who, in the opinion of the Chemistry Department, has prepared the best honors thesis.
Divided between: Jordan M. Aucoin and Nejc Nagelj
The Frank Fowler Dow Prize, established by Fayette B. Dow in memory of his father, is awarded to a senior preparing to enter medical school and whose undergraduate work indicates a career of distinction in medicine.
Divided between: Mickey E. Jackson III and Danielle Jean Reed
The Everett H. Pryde Research Award is presented annually to a senior who has been an outstanding teaching assistant in chemistry and who shows great promise for carrying out research in science or medicine.
Clara Chae Young Seo
COMPUTER SCIENCE
The Computer Science Prize is awarded to a senior who has completed an honors thesis and who, in the opinion of the Department of Computer Science, has achieved the best performance in the study of computer science. The award is based on the thesis and overall achievement in computer science.
Samantha Chariton Rydzewski
ECONOMICS
The Bernstein Prize, funded by a gift from the Bernstein family in honor of the work their son, Jeffrey ’91, did at Amherst College, is awarded to the senior who has done particularly outstanding honors work in economics.
Divided between: Claire Dreier Holleman and Sean Gao
The James R. Nelson Memorial Award and The James R. Nelson Prize were established from the income of a fund established by former students, colleagues and friends to encourage and recognize the scholarly and humane qualities that Professor Nelson exemplified and sought to foster in his students.
The James R. Nelson Memorial Award is presented to that senior who, in the opinion of the Economics Department, has achieved excellence in the study of economics while pursuing a broad liberal education.
Divided among: Seamus Lawton, Andrew Charles Swenson and Yujing Crystal Zhou
The James R. Nelson Prize is awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of the Economics Department, has written a distinguished honors thesis that applies economic analysis to an important question of public policy.
Divided between: Emily Kiernan and Kevin Ma
The Jeanne E. Reinle Prize is named after Jeanne Reinle, the Academic Department Coordinator of the Economics Department for 30 years, whose inviting and engaging presence welcomed and supported generations of Amherst economics students and faculty. The prize is awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of the Department, exemplifies a commitment to building community in the Department and a passion for economics.
Divided between: Ahliaa Moore and Andrew Charles Swenson
ENGLISH
The Academy of American Poets Prize is awarded annually for the best poem or group of poems, preferably on nature, submitted by an undergraduate.
Anthony V. Ornelaz
The Elizabeth Bruss Prize is presented to that senior English major who in the judgment of the English Department best represents those qualities of breadth and imagination exemplified by Elizabeth Bruss.
Abigail Akua Akyaamaa Offei-Addo
The Corbin Prize, established by the estate of William Lee Corbin of the Class of 1896, is awarded for an outstanding original composition in the form of poetry or an informal essay.
Divided among: Julian Taylor Raiford and two underclass students named during the Undergraduate Awards Assembly.
The G. Armour Craig Award for Prose Composition is awarded to that junior or senior who writes the best autobiographical essay on an experience of intellectual discovery.
Divided between: Samuel Gammon Hood and an underclass student named during the Undergraduate Award Ceremony.
The Peter Burnett Howe Prize for excellence in prose fiction, was established by a gift of Robert B. Howe of the Class of 1930 in memory of his son Peter Burnett Howe, 1960.
Divided among: Kiera Alventosa and two underclass students named during the Undergraduate Awards Assembly.
The Rolfe Humphries Poetry Prize is presented to that senior who has achieved the greatest sense of poetic form in his or her undergraduate writing. The award is made on the basis of three submissions to the English Department in the applicant’s senior year and may include writing produced during the undergraduate years.
Divided between: Brenna Lane Macaray and a first semester senior named during the Undergraduate Award Ceremony.
The Aliki Perroti and Seth Frank ’55 Prize is awarded annually to one or more students who produce works of analysis, criticism, and original academic writing about poets who are graduates of Amherst College or who otherwise have a significant identity and affiliation with the Amherst College community.
Divided between: Brenna Lane Macaray and an underclass student named during the Undergraduate Award Ceremony.
The Ralph Waldo Rice Prize, established by Mrs. Mary Rice Jenkins in memory of her brother of the Class of 1910, is awarded for the best essay on “The Liberal College and Christian Citizenship” or any subject named by the faculty. The prize this year is awarded for the best portfolio submitted toward senior honors.
Luke David Williamson
The Stephen E. Whicher Prize, established in memory of Stephen E. Whicher ’36 for the best essay by a senior in the interpretation of American literature in the Department of English or American Studies.
Seoyeon Kim
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
The Jan E. Dizard Prize in Environmental Studies, established on the occasion of his retirement, honors Professor Dizard for his role in founding the Department and is awarded to one or more members of the graduating class, who in the opinion of the Department, exemplify the field of environmental studies in academic work.
Margot Ruth Lurie
EUROPEAN STUDIES
The European Studies Prize is awarded to the student who has written a thesis with great distinction that is dedicated to the analysis and exploration of cultures of Europe throughout history or in the present.
Anna Katherine Lily Agathis
THE FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES
The Film and Media Studies Award is awarded to an honors student in the Film and Media Studies Program for an outstanding thesis.
Samuel Gammon Hood
FRENCH
The Frederick King Turgeon Prize in French Literature was established by former students of Professor Turgeon upon the occasion of his retirement. It is used for the award of a book to the student who has done particularly distinguished work in French during the year.
Adriel Julio Roncal
GEOLOGY
The Walter F. Pond Prize, established in honor of Walter Pond ’07, is awarded to the senior who has submitted the best honors thesis in geology.
Colin Murphy
The David F. Quinn Memorial Award is awarded in memory of David Quinn ’80 to an outstanding senior who, during his or her undergraduate career, has made a positive contribution to geology at Amherst through character, leadership, enthusiasm, and participation in departmental activities.
Rilla McKeegan
GERMAN
The Consulate General Prize for German Studies, made available by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Boston, is awarded to that junior or senior who, in the judgment of the Department of German, has made a superior contribution to any aspect of German Studies at Amherst College.
Koun Yun
GREEK
The Hutchins Prize, established by Waldo Hutchins of the Class of 1842, is awarded to a senior for excellence in Greek.
Gregory Mitchell Kaplan
HISTORY
The Asa J. Davis Prize is awarded to a student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the study of the History of Africa and the Black Diaspora and whose work best reflects the comprehensive interest of Asa Davis in historical and cultural contacts between Africa, the Old World and the Americas.
Natalie De Rosa
The Alfred F. Havighurst Prize, intended for the purchase of books, is awarded to that major in the Department of History who has in four years at Amherst best fulfilled the standards of excellence and humane scholarship exemplified by Professor Havighurst during his teaching career at Amherst College.
Benjamin Xavier Gilsdorf
JAPANESE
The Smith Prizes, established as part of the Nihon Ryuugaku Fellowship Fund, the Smith Prizes recognize two high-achieving graduating seniors who have studied Japanese within the Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations.
First Prize divided between: Teresa Toshiko Haberstroh and Kou Ang Li
Second Prize divided between: Maria Eduarda Belota Moreno and Madison Taylor
JOURNALISM
The Samuel Bowles Prize, established by Samuel Bowles King, Class of 1902, to stimulate interest in journalism as a career, is awarded to a student who has demonstrated proficiency in journalism.
Divided between: Olivia I. Gieger and an underclass student named during the Undergraduate Awards Assembly.
LATIN
The Bertram Prizes, established by John Bertram of Salem, are two prizes awarded to students who, together with attaining a high average in the Latin courses of the senior year, present the best essays connected with these courses.
Combined and divided between: Gregory Mitchell Kaplan and Joshua Whang
LAW, JURISPRUDENCE AND SOCIAL THOUGHT
The Nasser Hussain Prize honors the memory of Nassar Hussain, a distinguished scholar and beloved teacher, who taught in Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought from 1996 until his death in 2015. It is given annually to a graduating senior for distinguished achievement in that major.
Rachel Jaye Ruderman
LIBRARY
The Frederick S. Lane ’36 Fellowship for Creative Artists is awarded to students using historical and rare source materials from Amherst College Archives and Special Collections toward projects in the arts.
Divided among: Benjamin Aliaga, Jackson Sungjin Lee and an underclass student named during the Undergraduate Awards Assembly.
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
The Robert H. Breusch Prize in Mathematics is awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of the faculty in mathematics and statistics, has presented the best honors thesis in mathematics.
Divided between: Jonah River Botvinick-Greenhouse and Andrew R. Tawfeek
The Robert H. Breusch Prize in Statistics is awarded to the senior who, in the opinion of the faculty in mathematics and statistics, has presented the best honors thesis in statistics.
Jasper Flint
The Five College Statistics Prize is awarded to a student for making an outstanding contribution to statistics and/or the statistics community in the Five Colleges. Contributions considered include an independent research, thesis or capstone course project; service to statistics on their campus (or across campuses); use of Five College statistics resources; and outstanding coursework and exploration of the statistics curriculum.
Divided between: Breanna Richards and Maria-Cristiana Gîrjău
The Walker Award in Mathematics & Statistics is awarded to a student who has demonstrated initiative, creativity, perseverance, and achievement in Mathematics and Statistics.
Divided among: Jonah River Botvinick-Greenhouse, Dana Frishman, Maria-Cristiana Gîrjău, Lianbi Ji, Tyler Andrew Marshall and Breanna Richards
MUSIC
The Sylvia and Irving Lerner Piano Prize is awarded to that student who has demonstrated the greatest skill and musicianship as a pianist.
Obed Kwamena Amissah
The Mishkin Prize was established by the Friends of Music to be awarded in memory of Professor Henry G. Mishkin to that senior selected by the Department of Music who produces the best senior thesis on a critical or musical topic.
Divided between: Hayley Fleming and Meredith Christina King
The Lincoln Lowell Russell Prize, established by J. W. Russell Jr. of the Class of 1899 in memory of his son, is awarded to the seniors who have done most to foster the singing spirit at Amherst.
Eunice Oluwadamilola Daudu
The Eric Edward Sundquist Prize, established in memory of Mr. Sundquist of the Class of 1936, is awarded to that senior who has demonstrated excellence in musical composition and performance.
Divided between: William Hines Shaw and Micah Adelin Starr
NEUROSCIENCE
The James Olds Memorial Neuroscience Award, established by the Swerdlow Family Foundation in recognition of the contributions made to the neurosciences by Dr. Olds of the Class of 1947, is presented to the student whose research in the neurosciences is judged, by the faculty of the Neuroscience Program, to be of highest quality.
Divided between: Youna Joo Choi and Braxton Riley Schuldt
PHILOSOPHY
The Gail Kennedy Memorial Prize is awarded to a senior major in Philosophy in recognition of a distinguished honors essay.
Divided between: Lucien Perrault and Dashiell Shulman
PHYSICS
The William Warren Stifler Prize, established by Professor Stifler, is awarded to a senior who has majored in physics and especially excelled in the course on electricity and magnetism.
Margit Liu
POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Densmore Berry Collins Prize in Political Science is given annually in memory of Mr. Collins, of the Class of 1940, for the best honors thesis in political science.
Rose MacDougall Mroczka
The Robert C. Vogel ’60 Senior Thesis Prize is awarded every year to the senior who writes the best thesis addressing the politics, economics, history, or society of Latin American countries or Latinx communities.
Divided between: Ana Maria Vieytez and Jack Kiryk
PSYCHOLOGY
The Haskell R. Coplin Memorial Award, established in memory of Mr. Coplin, Professor of Psychology, recognizes that member of the graduating class who, in the opinion of the Psychology Department, displays the scholarly and humane qualities that best exemplify Professor Coplin. The prize is to a senior who has shown distinguished work in psychology classes and in an honors thesis, and who has contributed to the life of the department.
Divided between: Margaret Ann Dedo Azu and Lauren Elizabeth Simpson
PUBLIC SPEAKING
The Bancroft Prizes, established by Frederic Bancroft of the Class of 1882, are awarded to seniors who produce the best orations. Both composition and delivery are considered.
Divided among: Mariama-Alexis Akosua Camara, Emily Kiernan, and Alyson Sage Plaman
RELIGION
The Moseley Prizes, established by Thomas Moseley of Hyde Park, are awarded to seniors for the best essays on a subject approved by the Department of Religion.
First Prize divided between: Djelimory N’fa Diabate and Manuel Rodriguez
Second Prize: Sabir Meah
RUSSIAN
The Carol Prize in Russian, given by David James Carol, Class of 1977, in honor of his parents, Joseph and Roberta Carol, is awarded to the student who has demonstrated the greatest dedication and commitment to Russian.
Alice Rose Heather Jackson Phillips
The Mikhail Schweitzer Memorial Book Award, established by students, parents and friends in fond memory of Mikhail Schweitzer, survivor of the Soviet Gulag, author, and custodian at Amherst College, for the award of books to the student who, in the judgment of the Russian Department, most shares Misha Schweitzer’s love of Russian literature and culture.
Divided between: Benjamin Xavier Gilsdorf and Derrick Newberry
SEXUALITY, WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES
The Rose Olver Prize is given each year to a senior who has demonstrated excellence in scholarly or creative work in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Nathaniel Shogren
SPANISH
The Pedro Grases Prizes for Excellence in Spanish is given by a member of the Class of 1939 to honor a great teacher and cordial scholar. It is awarded each year to that senior who has shown the greatest progress in the ability to read Hispanic literature with insight and to write and speak Spanish with intelligence and humane sensitivity.
Divided between: Sara Kaufman and Camilo Toruño
THEATER AND DANCE
The Raymond Keith Bryant Prize, an annual gift from Robert E. and Ethel M. Bryant in memory of their son of the Class of 1936, is awarded to that student who, in the opinion of the judges, gives the best performance of the year in a Masquers’ play.
Divided between: Maya Mizrahi and Daniel Rendón Gallego