Prize Day winners 2026

Publication Date

Harry Guttman Endowed Prize

To an outstanding student of classics.

Winner: Matthew Connolly


Robert G. O'Neale (1878) Prize

To the senior with the highest standing in classics.

Winner: Cora Bessette


William F. Allen (1895) Essay Prize

To the senior in any department for the best essay.

Winner: Cassandra DeGeorge


William F. Allen (1895) Essay Prize

To the senior in any department for the best essay.

Winner: Nina Allain


William H. Bloom, M.D. (1945) and Jonathan R. Bloom (1988) Poetry Prize

For the best poem or series of poems by an undergraduate.

Winner: Liza Pustavoitau


Edward Everett Hale, Jr. Prize

For the best essay written by a sophomore or junior.

Winner: Shreya Majumdar


Eugene I. Yudis (1955) Prize

To the student who has produced the best piece of prose fiction.

Winner: Ali Hamza


Mrs. Edwin L. Rich Prize

To a student majoring in English who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship.

Winner: Amelia Keese


Daniel Shocket (1972) Memorial Award

To a student majoring in English with a strong interest in creative writing.

Winner: Tessa Klimowicz


Wessel Ten Broeck Van Orden (1839) Prize

To a first-year student excelling in English composition.

Winner: John Miga


Wessel Ten Broeck Van Orden (1839) Prize

To a first-year student excelling in English composition.

Winner: Danielle Gesser Sapir


Kerrie Droban (1987) Award for Writing Excellence

To a student who has demonstrated excellence in writing.

Winner: Ali Hamza


David Brind (1982) Memorial Prize in English (book)

To one or more outstanding senior students in English.

Winner: Cassandra DeGeorge


David Brind (1982) Memorial Prize in English (book)

To one or more outstanding senior students in English.

Winner: Daniel Buletza


David Brind (1982) Memorial Prize in English (book)

To one or more outstanding senior students in English.

Winner: Isaiah Russell


Hans Hainebach Memorial Prize in German Language and Literature

To a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated particular promise as a student of German literature.

Winner: Dorothea DeMarle


Hans Hainebach Memorial Prize in German Language and Literature

To a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated particular promise as a student of German literature.

Winner: Margaret DeMarle


John Iwanik Prize

To an outstanding Russian language student.

Winner: Nina Allain


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.

Winner: Petr Melinkov


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.

Winner: Jennifer Vil


Aime Simon (1991) Term Abroad Prize

To a student of high academic standing and promise with strong interest in French studies, who contributes to the college community, and who has been accepted to participate in a term abroad program in a French-speaking country.

Winner: Eric Greenberg


Victor Herbert Prize

To the student who shows the most promise of making a contribution to American music.

Winner: Mollyjane Boyle


Charles Alexander Richmond Prize in Music

To a student who demonstrates excellence in music.

Winner: Kristina Yuan


Harold A. Larrabee Prize

To the student who has done the best work in philosophy during the year.

Winner: Eri Matsuoka


Milton Hymes Sternfeld (1916) Prize

For the best original essay in philosophy by a member of the senior class.

Winner: John O'Connor


Frankel Prize

For outstanding achievement in a religion course.

Winner: Annalysia Gonzalez


Celia Glaubach Prize

To the student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in the area of religious studies.

Winner: Thomas Simpson


J. Richard Shanebrook Prize

To a student who has contributed the most to the betterment of religious life on campus.

Winner: Zion Schlussel


Arnold I. Bittleman Memorial Prize

To a student who has studied drawing in the Visual Arts Department and whose work is outstanding.

Winner: Mia Polenberg


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.

Winner: Jane Mae Schreiner


Charles Alexander Richmond Prize in Fine Arts

To a student who demonstrates excellence in fine arts or art history.

Winner: Sophia Rothberg


John R. Glover Prize for Black & White Photography

For excellence in black-and-white photography.

Winner: Benjamin Stern


John R. Glover Prize for Color Photography

For excellence in color photography.

Winner: Nathan Wright


Mildred Wilder Prize

To the senior majoring in political science who has written the best piece of scholarly work on women and politics.

Winner: Kennedy Snyder


Minerva Prize

To a student whose work best combines the scholarly study of women or gender with activities that enhance the life of women and/or LGBTQIA+ students.

Winner: Mircy Micheidy Coca Soriano


Schaffer Library Research Award

Awarded to the submission with the strongest reflective essay, research project/paper, and bibliography.

Winner: Alexandra Danieli


Lewis Henry Morgan (1840) Prize

To the anthropology major who produces the best senior thesis.

Winner: Claire Braaten


Elias Peissner Prize

To an economics major who has done work of outstanding merit.

Winner: Linnea Tix


Joseph D. Doty Prize

To the junior or senior who, in the judgment of the Department of History, has done work of outstanding merit.

Winner: Adam Hayes


Hans Pasch Memorial Prize

Awarded for the best essay written about the Holocaust.

Winner: Lola Marvin


Sarah A. Foster (2014) Memorial Prize

To a senior(s) who demonstrates academic excellence, with first preference to a senior history major who plans to become a teacher.

Winner: Mollyjane Boyle


Freling H. Smith (1865) Prize

To the history major with the best senior thesis.

Winner: Mollyjane Boyle


Oswald Heck (1924) - Irwin Steingut Prize

To the student who has consistently done the best work in political science.

Winner: Mia Raiti


David S. Kaplan (1982) Memorial Prize

To a student applying for a term abroad, with preference to a major in political science.

Winner: Jay Spahn


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.

Winner: Miyah Falk


Alvin F. Nitchman (1924) Prize

To the most promising senior who plans to attend law school.

Winner: Sydney Alphabet


Rotary Foundation Endowed Prize for International Study

To the senior who shows the greatest promise and interest in an area of international relations.

Winner: Ezra Gollan


Joel D. Ticknor (1960) Prize

To the graduating senior who has demonstrated a capacity for long term thinking and who plans to use their career to help solve the world's most pressing problems.

Winner: Sasha Malik


Charles M. Tidmarch Prize

To the senior political science student who has written the best senior thesis.

Winner: Eleanor Peterson


Roger Thayer Stone (1928) Prize

To the sociology major who produces the best senior thesis.

Winner: Hannah Ingber


Albert C. Ingham (1847) Prize

To the student in social sciences judged to have done the most outstanding piece of scholarly work.

Winner: Eleanor Peterson


Kurt W. Hillig (1975) Biochemistry Prize

To the senior who demonstrates outstanding work, ability and promise in biochemistry.

Winner: Kiersten Hamilton


Edith Emilee MacCoy Prize

To the student who excels in botany.

Winner: Ava Duboff


Mark Rosenthal (1976) Memorial Prize

To a senior involved in community activities who is planning to attend medical school.

Winner: Marissa Gnitzcavich


Robert M. Fuller (1863) Sophomore Prize

To the sophomore who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in chemistry.

Winner: Gavin Sandberg


Robert M. Fuller (1863) Senior Prize

To the senior who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in chemistry.

Winner: Emma Townsend


Charles B. Hurd Prize

To an outstanding student pursuing coursework in physical chemistry.

Winner: Erik Roberts


Ashraf M. Ghaly Geo Research Prize

To the senior who completes the best research study and reports original results in any geo field.

Winner: Elena Alves Leslie


Ashraf M. Ghaly Geo Research Prize

To the senior who completes the best research study and reports original results in any geo field.

Winner: Jason Sabba


Geology Faculty Prize

To the student who contributes most to the academic and social fabric of the Geosciences Department.

Winner: Rosalind Lampert


Edward S.C. Smith Geology Prize

To a senior majoring in geology who demonstrates high professional potential.

Winner: Amelia Casassa


Edward S.C. Smith Geology Prize

To a senior majoring in geology who demonstrates high professional potential.

Winner: Sarah Unger


Martin Terry Resch Prize

To the senior who shows the greatest promise for advanced study in pure or applied mathematics.

Winner: Talha Khan


Goodnow Neuroscience Endowed Prize

Awarded annually to the graduating neuroscience student who shows the most promise for success in graduate school and beyond.

Winner: Ava Hubert


Lisa S. Gerhan (1994) Memorial Award

For exhibiting academic excellence, a commitment to the field of psychology, and the potential for future contributions to the field.

Winner: Mai Tran


John Lewis March Prize

To a senior who has shown increased interest and ability in psychology during the final two years of college.

Winner: Claire Knecht


Professor Frank Titus Memorial Prize in Physics

To the senior who demonstrates outstanding work, ability, and promise in physics and/or astronomy.

Winner: Nolan Blake


James Henry Turnbull (1929) Prize

To the outstanding sophomore in physics.

Winner: Benjamin Visconti


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.

Winner: Erik Roberts


William E. Lasnik (1968) Prize

To a junior or senior premedical student on the basis of scholarship and character.

Winner: Adithi Chellappan


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.

Winner: Vishaal Nayagam


Harold and Ellen Nagorsky Memorial Prize

Awarded to a junior premedical student who contributes the most to the Union College community through extracurricular activities.

Winner: Safa Ahmad


Harold and Ellen Nagorsky Memorial Prize

Awarded to a junior premedical student who contributes the most to the Union College community through extracurricular activities.

Winner: Olivia Belfonti


Ronald M. Obenzinger (1961) Prize

To a premedical student who is selected for high academic merit and personal worthiness.

Winner: Rosemary Crooker


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.

Winner: Mridula Shanker


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.

Winner: Kennedy Alexis


Alice P. and Donald C. Loughry (1952) Prize in Computer Science

To the student completing the best senior project in computer science.

Winner: Alissa Tsay


George H. Williams Prize

To a graduating senior for excellence in computer science.

Winner: Ha Truong


Fletcher (1947) and Grace Blanchard Memorial Prize in Bioengineering

To a senior who has excelled in bioengineering.

Winner: Katherine Robinson


Ingvar V. Ingvarsson Prize

To a senior in electrical engineering chosen for high scholarship.

Winner: Nguyen Ho


Alice P. and Donald C. Loughry (1952) Prize in Computer Engineering

To the student completing the best senior project in computer engineering.

Winner: Olivia Bottomley


Alice P. and Donald C. Loughry (1952) Prize in Electrical Engineering

To the student completing the best senior project in electrical engineering.

Winner: Max Helfrich


Alice P. and Donald C. Loughry (1952) Prize in Electrical Engineering

To the student completing the best senior project in electrical engineering.

Winner: Leo Weisberger


R. E. Morgan Memorial Award

To a senior in computer engineering chosen for high scholarship.

Winner: Grady Bosanko


Ralph W. Stearns (1907) Prize

To an outstanding student in electrical or computer engineering.

Winner: Samantha Scanlon


General Electric Edison Mechanical Engineering Leadership Prize

To a senior majoring in mechanical engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.

Winner: Timothy Belin


General Electric Edison Mechanical Engineering Prize

To a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.

Winner: Zev Deladingco


General Electric Energy Steinmetz Award

To a senior in mechanical engineering who completes the best senior project.

Winner: Julien Carreiro


General Electric Energy Steinmetz Award

To a senior in mechanical engineering who completes the best senior project.

Winner: Audra McFarland


John S. Hadala (1928) Endowed Book Prize

To a senior majoring in mechanical engineering on the basis of academic, personal, and social achievement.

Winner: Elaine Batts


John S. Hadala (1928) Endowed Book Prize

To a senior majoring in mechanical engineering on the basis of academic, personal, and social achievement.

Winner: Eduardo Castro


Mortimore F. Sayre Prize

To the senior with the best potential for furthering the ideals of the mechanical engineering profession.

Winner: Amelia Lettre


Daniel F. Pullman Engineering Prize

To a senior of high scholastic standing in engineering.

Winner: Katherine Robinson


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.

Winner: Ava Hubert


Daniel F. Pullman Classical Prize

To a senior of high scholastic standing in humanities.

Winner: Cora Bessette


Andrew W. Archibald (1872) Prize

To the senior earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with the highest scholastic standing.

Winner: Skylar Semon


Horatio G. Warner (1826) Prize

To a student of high personal character who has the highest scholastic standing in the Bachelor of Arts program.

Winner: Matthew Connolly


Joel A. Halpern (1961) Prize

To a student who has made a commitment in service to the local community.

Winner: Dani Brown


Alan Lake Chidsey (1925) Citizenship Award

To a senior for distinctive contributions to the advancement of responsible government in student affairs.

Winner: Ajay Goncalves


Andrew Alvez, Sr. Prize

To a high-achieving senior who is the first in their family to attend college (first generation student).

Winner: Britannae Williams


Albert Hill Recognition Award

To the senior who has held leadership positions and demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing the College community.

Winner: Isaiah Russell


Roger H. Hull Community Service Award

To a senior who has rendered the greatest sustained service to the greater Schenectady community.

Winner: Marissa Gnitzcavich


Calvin G. Schmidt (1951) Prize

To the member of the junior class who has contributed most to the betterment of student life on campus.

Winner: Drew Busny


Frances Travis Award

To a student who is working their way through college and who demonstrated unusual responsibility and self-reliance.

Winner: Jacob Hernandez


UNITAS Diversity Leadership Award

To the student who has made a significant contribution toward fostering diversity on campus.

Winner: Wellington Matos


Josephine Daggett Prize

To a senior of the best conduct and character.

Winner: Mai Tran


Frank Bailey (1885) Prize

To the senior who has rendered the greatest service to the College in any field.

Winner: Dani Brown