Prize Day winners 2020

Presenters included President David R. Harris; Strom Thacker, the Stephen J. and Diane K. Ciesinski Dean of Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Fran’Cee Brown-McClure, vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; and Simon Bohn ’20, president of Student Forum.

The event also featured musical performances by the Union College Chorale and the Heavenly Voices Gospel Choir.

The complete list of winners:

William F. Allen (1895) Essay Prize – To the senior in any department for the best essay.
Hope Noonan-Stoner

Ronald K. Amiraian (1980) Memorial Prize – To a student of modern languages who has performed with distinction on a Union term abroad.
Emma Mahony

Andrew W. Archibald (1872) Prize – To the senior earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with the highest scholastic standing.
Ngoc Minh Le

Arnold I. Bittleman Memorial Prize – To a student who has studied drawing in the Visual Arts Department and whose work is outstanding.
Kolby McKenzie

Fletcher (1947) and Grace Blanchard Memorial Prize in Bioengineering – To a senior who has excelled in bioengineering.
Jillian Yeager

William H. Bloom, M.D. (1945) and Jonathan R. Bloom (1988) Poetry Prize – For the best poem or series of poems by an undergraduate.
Kaleigh Conte

David Brind (1982) Memorial Prize in English – To one or more outstanding senior students in English.
Hope Noonan-Stoner

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.
Hope Noonan-Stoner

Joseph D. Doty Prize – To the junior or senior who, in the judgment of the Department of History, has done work of outstanding merit
Julianna Kramer

Kerrie Droban (1987) Award for Writing Excellence – To a student who has demonstrated excellence in writing.
Nicholas Soluri

Sarah A. Foster (2014) Memorial Prize – To a senior(s) who demonstrates academic excellence in history and who plans to become a teacher.
Emily Coello

Frankel Prize – To a student for outstanding achievement in a religion course.
Luke Buckovich

Robert M. Fuller (1863) Sophomore Prize – To the sophomore who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in chemistry.
Lukas Baker, Amber Birt

Robert M. Fuller (1863) Senior Prize – To the senior who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in chemistry.
Thomas Andre

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.
Fatima Ropri

General Electric Edison Mechanical Engineering Book Prize – To a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.
Bethany Costello

General Electric Edison Mechanical Engineering Leadership Prize – To a senior majoring in mechanical engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.
Joana Santos

General Electric Energy Steinmetz Award – To a senior in mechanical engineering who completes the best senior project.
Zineb Hajjaj, Mark Harris Solomon

Geology Faculty Prize – To a senior who contributes most to the Geology Department and social morale.
Laura Piccirillo

Lisa S. Gerhan (1994) Memorial Award – To a student who demonstrates academic excellence, a commitment to the field of psychology and the potential for future contributions to the field..
Meichai Chen, Samuel Fogarty

Ashraf M. Ghaly Geo Research Prize – To the senior who completes the best research study and reports original results in any geo field (geotechnical, geoenvironmental, geoengineering, geoscience, or geospatial).
Peter Keane, Aidan Quigley

Celia Glaubach Prize – To the student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in the area of religious studies.
Alexandra Appel

Goodnow Neuroscience Endowed Prize – Awarded annually to the graduating neuroscience student who shows the most promise for success in graduate school and beyond.
Annika Eberle, Julia Waszak

Harry Guttman Endowed Prize – To an outstanding student of classics.
Kyle Doney

John S. Hadala (1928) Endowed Book Prize – To a senior majoring in mechanical engineering on the basis of academic, personal, and social achievement.
Giancarlo Sabetta

Hans Hainebach Memorial Prize in German Literature – To a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated particular promise as a student of German literature.
David Hillman, Garyfallia Ralli

Hans Hainebach Memorial Prize in Judaica – To a student who has offered the best performance in the field of Judaica.
Ethan Lampert

Hedda Hainebach Memorial Prize in Music and Theatre – To the best performer of classical music, to a student who has written the best short play, or to the best actor or actress.
Erick Miron

Edward Everett Hale, Jr. Prize – For the best essay written by a sophomore or junior.
Emma Houston

Oswald Heck (1924) - Irwin Steingut Prize – To the student who has consistently done the best work in political science.
Caroline Ristaino

Eugene W. Hellmich (1923) Memorial Prize – To a senior who demonstrates excellence in mathematics and is planning to teach math.
Thomas Harrison

Kurt W. Hillig (1975) Biochemistry Prize – To the senior who demonstrates outstanding work, ability and promise in biochemistry.
Kimberly O’Reilly

Julian B. Hoffman, M.D. Memorial Award – To the student, preferably premedical, for distinguished interest, devotion, and contribution to the arts or intellectual climate at Union College.
Shreya Srivastava

Charles B. Hurd Prize – To an outstanding student pursuing coursework in physical chemistry.
Chris Avanessian

Albert C. Ingham (1847) Prize – To the student in social sciences judged to have done the most outstanding piece of scholarly work.
Rose Parisi

Ingvar V. Ingvarsson Prize – To a senior in electrical engineering chosen for high scholarship.
Natalia Pezzuco

John Iwanik Prize – To an outstanding Russian language student.
Ziyi Hu

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.
Kaitlynn Blow

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.
Charles Deakin

David S. Kaplan (1982) Memorial Prize – To a student applying for a term abroad, with preference to a major in political science.
Leah Pezanowski

Warner King (1906) Prize – To the senior in Engineering who has contributed most to the traditions and ideals of the College.
Erendira Garcia-Pallares

Ethel Kirchenbaum Memorial Prize – To the senior who possesses the best potential for furthering the ideals of the engineering profession.
Joana Santos

Harold A. Larrabee Prize – To the student who has done the best work in philosophy during the year.
Victoria Dema, Harper Lyon

William E. Lasnik (1968) Prize – To a junior or senior premedical student on the basis of scholarship and character.
Arnold Moore

Anthony C. LaVecchia (1998) Memorial Award – To a student who demonstrates a keen interest and passion in journalism, especially with a focus in political journalism.
Joseph Maher

Stephen F. Leo, M.D. (1884) Prize – To the student on scholarship who attained the highest grades in the graduating class and who has been accepted into medical school.
Kara Leyden

Alice P. and Donald C. Loughry (1952) Prize in Computer Engineering – To the student completing the best senior project in computer engineering.
Jacob Karaul, Xavier Quinn

Alice P. and Donald C. Loughry (1952) Prize in Computer Science – To the student completing the best senior project in computer science.
Jonathan Hanna

Alice P. and Donald C. Loughry (1952) Prize in Electrical Engineering – To the student completing the best senior project in electrical engineering.
Dale Coker, Kyle Meza

Edith Emilee MacCoy Prize – To the student who excels in botany.
Sean Rigney

John Lewis March Prize – To a senior who has shown increased interest and ability in psychology during the final two years of college.
Nathaniel Stekler

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.
Alexandra Baldwin

Lewis Henry Morgan (1840) Prize – To the anthropology major who produces the best senior thesis.
Rose Parisi

R. E. Morgan Memorial Award – To a senior in computer engineering chosen for high scholarship.
Claire Williamson

Harold and Ellen Nagorsky Memorial Prize – Awarded to a junior premedical student who contributes the most to the Union College community through extracurricular activities.
Andrew Giordano

Alvin F. Nitchman (1924) Prize – To the most promising senior who plans to attend law school, with special consideration given to seniors planning to attend Albany Law School, Mr. Nitchman’s alma mater.
Daniele Durkin

Ronald M. Obenzinger (1961) Prize – To a premedical student who is selected for high academic merit and personal worthiness.
Cecilia Sousa

Robert G. O’Neale (1878) Prize – To the senior with the highest standing in classics.
Meghan Reilly

Hans Pasch Memorial Prize – Awarded for the best essay written about the Holocaust.
Isabela Albuja, Carolina Missura,
Garyfallia Ralli

Elias Peissner Prize – To an economics major who has done work of outstanding merit.
Ngoc Minh Le

President’s Commission on the Status of Women Senior Scholarly Activity Award – To a senior who displays outstanding scholarly activity in her field.
Meghan Reilly

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.
Dayrielis Noa-Guzman

Daniel F. Pullman Classical Prize – To a senior of high scholastic standing in humanities.
Hope Noonan-Stoner

Daniel F. Pullman Engineering Prize – To a senior of high scholastic standing in engineering.
Caitlin McMahon

Martin Terry Resch Prize – To the senior who shows the greatest promise for advanced study in pure or applied mathematics.
Meichai Chen, Zachary Porat, Mushan Zhong

Mrs. Edwin L. Rich Prize – To a student majoring in English who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship.
Hope Noonan-Stoner

Charles Alexander Richmond Prize in Music – To a student who demonstrates excellence in music.
Mengjia Qi

Charles Alexander Richmond Prize in Fine Arts – To a student who demonstrates excellence in fine arts or art history.
Hein Htet Aung

Mark Rosenthal (1976) Memorial Prize – To a senior involved in community activities who is planning to attend medical school.
Shreya Srivastava

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.
Bridgit Sullivan

Robert L. Royal (1938) Award – To a student on scholarship who has been accepted into Albany Medical College.
Shreya Srivastava

Mortimore F. Sayre Prize – To the senior with the best potential for furthering the ideals of the mechanical engineering profession.
Jack Edson

Edward S.C. Smith Geology Prize – To a senior majoring in geology who demonstrates high professional potential.
Jaclyn Gehring, Alaina Chormann

Freling H. Smith (1865) Prize – To the history major with the best senior thesis.
Sahil Chaudhuri

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.
Rose Parisi

Ralph W. Stearns (1907) Prize – To an outstanding student in electrical or computer engineering.
Caitlin McMahon

Milton Hymes Sternfeld (1916) Prize – For the best original essay in philosophy by a member of the senior class.
Arnold Moore, James Segee-Wright

Roger Thayer Stone (1928) Prize – To the sociology major who produces the best senior thesis.
Kara Leyden

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.
Marisa Peters

Joel D. Ticknor (1960) Prize – To the graduating senior who has demonstrated a capacity for long term thinking and who plans to use his/her career to help solve the world’s most pressing problems.
Madeleine Hamparian

Charles M. Tidmarch Prize – To the senior political science student who has written the best senior thesis.
Caroline Ristaino

Professor Frank Titus Memorial Prize in Physics – To the senior who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in physics and/or astronomy.
Jillian Guthrie

James Henry Turnbull (1929) Prize – To the outstanding sophomore in physics.
Christos Kakogiannis

Wessel Ten Broeck Van Orden (1839) Prize – To a first-year student excelling in English composition.
Jing Chen

Edward Villella, L.H.D. 1991 Prize – To a student for the best dance performance.
Isabella Demyan, Mary Melo

Horatio G. Warner (1826) Prize – To a student of high personal character who has the highest scholastic standing in the Bachelor of Arts program.
Caroline Ristaino

Mildred Wilder Prize – To the senior majoring in political science who has written the best piece of scholarly work on women and politics.
Dayrielis Noa-Guzman

George H. Williams Prize – To a graduating senior for excellence in computer science.
Kyle Doney

The Lee, William, Dr. Norman ‘43 and Dr. George ‘53 Wrubel Memorial Prize – To a senior preparing for dentistry or medicine, based on both academic achievement and character.
Madeleine Aitken

Eugene I. Yudis (1955) Prize – To the student who has produced the best piece of prose fiction.
Frank Caccioppoli, Josephine Sasso

Alan Lake Chidsey (1925) Citizenship Award – To a senior for distinctive contributions to the advancement of responsible government in student affairs.
Ruchi Raval

Joel A. Halpern (1961) Prize – To a student who has made a commitment in service to the local community.
Jacob Feinstein

Albert Hill Recognition Award – To the senior who has held leadership positions and demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing the College community.
Simon Bohn

Roger H. Hull Community Service Award – To the senior who has rendered the greatest sustained service to the greater Schenectady community by initiating or being actively engaged in an ongoing community service project.
Mikaela Buryj

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.
Annika Eberle

Calvin G. Schmidt (1951) Prize – To the member of the junior class who has contributed most to the betterment of student life on campus.
Hayley Coakley

J. Richard Shanebrook Prize – To a student who has contributed the most to the betterment of religious life on campus.
Justin Cohen

Frances Travis Award – To a student who is working his or her way through college and who demonstrated unusual responsibility and self-reliance.
Hayden Paneth

UNITAS Diversity Leadership Award – To the student who has made a significant contribution toward fostering diversity on campus.
Ademilola Oyetuga

Josephine Daggett Prize – To a senior of the best conduct and character.
Harjot Uppal

Frank Bailey (1885) Prize – To the senior who has rendered the greatest service to the College in any field.
Samuel Fogarty