Prizes & Awards 2012
The following prizes were awarded at the Ivy Day Awards Convocation, May 19, 2012.
Alumnae Association
The Nancy Cook Steeper ’59 Prize to a senior who, through involvement with the Alumnae Association, has made a significant contribution to building connections between Smith alumnae and current students to Amber Sinicrope ’12
American Studies
The Newton Arvin Prize in American Studies for the best long paper in the introductory course on the Study of American Society and Culture to Anne Berman ’15 and Zane Razzaq ’15
The Gladys Lampert ’28 and Edward Beenstock Prize to a student who excels in either American studies or American history to Kaitlin Hovanes ’12
The Eleanor Flexner Prize for the best piece of work by a Smith undergraduate using the Sophia Smith Collection and the Smith Archives to Heidi Waugh ’12
The Nancy Boyd Gardner Prize for an outstanding paper or other project in American studies by a Smithsonian intern or American studies major to Shama Rahman ’13
The Donald H. Sheehan Memorial Prize for outstanding work in American studies to Lucy McAuliffe ’12
Art
The Megan Hart Jones Studio Art Prize for judged work in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, graphic arts or architecture to Naya Bricher ’13
The Elizabeth Killian Roberts Prize for the best drawing by an undergraduate to Whitney Brooks ’12
The Phyllis Williams Lehmann Travel Award to a graduating senior majoring in art, with preference given to students interested in studying art history, especially classical art, at the graduate level to Emily Alesandrini ’12 and Alessandra Amin ’12
The Enid Silver Winslow ’54 Prize in Art History for the best student paper written in an art history course taught at Smith to Janelle Gatchalian ’12 and Amanda Tsao ’12
Museum of Art
The Tryon Prize for Writing to a Smith student for outstanding work in any written form that examines art or ideas associated with the museum to—First Prize: Venessa Brewster AC; Second Prize: Margaret Kurkoski ’12; Honorable Mention: Amy Lam ’12
The Tryon Prize for New Media for outstanding work in new media (including digital, video, interactive media, installation and performance art) that examines art or ideas associated with the museum to—First Prize: Sarah Meikle AC ’12 and Rosaura Sanchez ’12J; Honorable Mention: Kendyll Gage-Ripa ’12 and Esther Kwon ’12
Athletics
The Sarah Winter Pokora Prize to a senior who has excelled in athletics and academics to Catriona Blunt ’12 and Lucy McAuliffe ’12
Biological Sciences
The Margaret Wemple Brigham Prize to a senior for excellence in the study of microbiology or immunology to Akosua Adu-Gyamfi ’12, Ruth Eichinger ’12, Saira Huq ’12, Nguyen Huynh ’12, Clare Landefeld ’12, Ivy Mead ’12, Yisi Lu ’12, Angela Oliverio ’12, Gladys Palaguachi ’12, Shannon Pettit ’12 and Francesca Tomaino ’12
The Amey Randall Brown Prize for the best essay on a botanical subject to—First Prize: Grace Anderson ’12; Second Prize: Jessamine Finch ’12, Jennifer Krain ’12 and Tia Novak ’12
The Esther Carpenter Biology Prize in general biology to a first-year woman graduate student to Rachael Sirois GR
The Harriet R. Foote Memorial Prize for outstanding work in botany based on a paper, course work or other contribution to the plant sciences at Smith to Jessamine Finch ’12
Helen Hills Hills Chapel
The Mollie Rogers/Newman Association Prize to a student who has demonstrated a dedication to humanity and a clear vision for translating that dedication into service that fosters peace and justice among people of diverse cultures to Alicen Roberts ’12
The Deborah Sosland-Edelman Prize to a senior for outstanding leadership in the Jewish community at Smith and valuable contribution to Smith College campus life to Daniele Goldberg ’12
Center for Community Collaboration
The Kathleen Bostwick Boyden Prize to a member of the Service Organizations of Smith demonstrating initiative in her volunteer contributions to the community to Olivia Cifrino ’12 and Alicen Roberts ’12
The Rita Wilkins Award to a senior who has volunteered all four years with a Community Service Organization community partner and who has demonstrated significant leadership and commitment to community service to Emily Pagano ’12 and Melanie Skyler ’12
Chemistry
The American Chemical Society Analytical Chemistry Award to a chemistry major who has excelled in analytical chemistry to Sarah Kay ’13
The American Chemical Society Award in Inorganic Chemistry to a chemistry major for excellence in inorganic chemistry and to encourage further study in the field to Eliza Spear ’12
The American Chemical Society/ Polymer Education Division Organic Chemistry Award to Naihan Chen ’14
The Connecticut Valley Section of the American Chemical Society Award to a student who has done outstanding work in chemistry, biochemistry or chemical engineering to Lexiaochuan Wen ’12
The American Institute of Chemists/New England Division Prize to an outstanding chemist, biochemist or chemical engineer in the graduating class to Danielle Pite ’12
The C. Pauline Burt Prize to a senior majoring in chemistry or biochemistry who has shown high potential for further study in science to Eliza Spear ’12 and Julea Vlassakis ’12
The CRC Press Introductory Chemistry Achievement Award in introductory chemistry to Bonnie Hawkins ’15, Shimu Liu ’15, Mojdeh Mostafavi ’15 and Lu Xia ’15
The Hause-Scheffer Memorial Prize to a senior majoring in chemistry with the best record in that subject to Catriona Blunt ’12
The Hellman Award in Biochemistry for outstanding achievement in the second semester of biochemistry to Sarah Lim ’12J
The Rosenfeld Award in Organic Chemistry for excellence in the first semester of organic chemistry to Naihan Chen ’14 and Emily Flynn ’14
Classics
The John Everett Brady Prize for excellence in translation of Latin at sight to Anissa Sartini ’12; and for the best performance in the beginning Latin course to Clarke Knight ’14, Naomi Sinnathamby ’15 and Abigail Sprenkle ’14
The Julia Harwood Caverno Prize for the best performance in the beginning Greek course to Olivia Blais ’15 and Elizabeth A. Davis ’14
The Alice Hubbard Derby Prize to a member of the junior or senior class for excellence in translation of Greek at sight to Natalie Sargent ’12
The George E. Dimock Prize for the best essay on a classical subject to Margaret Kurkoski ’12
Computer Science
The Bert Mendelson Prize for excellence in computer science to Weini Yu ’14; and for excellence in the computer science major to a senior to Tiffany Liu ’12
Office of the Dean of the College
The David C. Burres Memorial Law Prize to a senior or an alumna accepted at law school intending to practice law in the public interest to Laura Fisher ’09
The Arthur Ellis Hamm Prize awarded on the basis of the best first-year student’s record to Naihan Chen ’14, Emma Cooke ’14, Emily Flynn ’14, Elizabeth Henle ’14, Clarke Knight ’14, Xinyi Liu ’14, Quynh Nguyen ’14, Haomin Yan ’14 and Weini Yu ’14
The Juliet Evans Nelson Award to graduating seniors for their contributions to the Smith community and demonstrated commitment to campus life to Himani Aggarwal ’12, Kendra Danowksi ’12 and Jennifer Krain ’12
The Victoria L. Schrager Prize to a senior who has maintained a distinguished academic record and has also taken an important part in student activities to Klarissa Klemm ’12
The Ruth Dietrich Tuttle Prize to encourage further study, travel or research in the areas of international relations, race relations or peace studies to Bridget Rhinehart ’12
Debate Society
The Andrew C. Slater Prize for excellence in debate to Molly Lonigan ’13; for most improved debater to Samantha Floyd ’14; and for distinguished service to Ellina Nektalova ’13
East Asian Languages and Literatures
The Ettie Chin Hong ’36 Prize to a senior major or minor in East Asian Languages and Literatures with special consideration given to those who have demonstrated leadership and high academic achievement and seek to pursue a career in education and/or service to immigrant and needy communities to Hannah Chan ’12 and Jacqueline T. Lee ’12
Program in East Asian Studies
Mary Maples Dunn Prize, awarded for an essay written in a regular course in the Program in East Asian Studies to Amy Lam ’12
Economics
The Samuel Bowles Prize for the best thesis on an economics subject to Guangye Cao ’12, Elena Plesco ’12 and Kailin Weng ’12
The Sidney S. Cohen Prize for outstanding work in the field of economics to Nhung Bui ’12, Tanya Hakim ’12 and Wen Wang ’12
The Larry C. Selgelid Memorial Prize for the greatest contribution to the Department of Economics by a Smith senior to Maya Bidanda ’12 and Tanya Hakim ’12
Engineering
The Ford Motor Company Prize for Sustainability to a student who has distinguished herself for her work in support of a sustainable environment to Hannah Hitchner ’12, Meghan Mussehl ’13J and Peace Young ’12
The Nancy Hellman Prize, established in 2005, to the Smith engineering student who has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of women in engineering to Lydia Bussiere ’12
The Adeline Devor Penberthy, Class of 1945, Memorial Prize to an undergraduate engineering major for academic excellence in engineering and outstanding contributions toward building a community of learners within the Picker Engineering Program to Elizabeth Helbling ’12, Helen Johnston ’12 and Ruby Zucker ’12
English
The Anne Bradstreet Prize from the Academy of American Poets for the best poem or group of poems submitted by an undergraduate to Victoria Henry ’13J
The Elizabeth Babcock Poetry Prize for the best group of poems to Vanessa Brewster AC
The Eleanor Cederstrom Prize for the best poem by an undergraduate written in the traditional verse form to Erin Kelly AC
The Ethel Olin Corbin Prize to an undergraduate for the best original poem or informal essay in English to Jessica McQuillan ’12
The Elizabeth Drew Prize for the best essay to Jessica McQuillan ’12 and Madeline Zehnder ’13; for the best fiction to Emily Atkinson ’13; and for the best honors thesis to Jessica McQuillan ’12
The Ruth Forbes Eliot Poetry Prize for the best poem submitted by a first-year student or sophomore to Hanae Jonas ’14J
The Clara French Prize to a senior who has advanced furthest in the study of English language and literature to Jessica McQuillan ’12
The Helen Kate Furness Prize for the best essay on a Shakespearean theme Jessica McQuillan ’12
The Elizabeth Wanning Harries Prize to a graduating Ada Comstock Scholar for academic distinction and demonstrated commitment to the study of literature in any language to Jennifer Eckert AC ’12
The Vernon Harward Prize to the best student scholar of Chaucer to Abigail Sprenkle ’12 and Sarah Yarborough ’13
The Mary Augusta Jordan Prize to a senior for the most original piece of literary work in prose or verse to Vanessa Raditz ’12
The Norma M. Leas, Class of 1939, Memorial Prize to a graduating English major for excellence in written English to Jessica McQuillan ’12
The Emogene Mahoney Memorial Prize for the best essay on a literary subject written by a first-year student to Gavriella Levy Haskell ’15
The Elizabeth Montagu Prize for the best essay on a literary subject concerning women to Madeline Zehnder ’13
The Gertrude Posner Spencer Prize for excellence in writing nonfiction to Liliana Farrell ’13; and for fiction prose to Emily Atkinson ’13 and Amanda Lewis ’14
The Rosemary Thomas Poetry Prize for the best group of poems to Kelsey Swensen ’13
French
The Césaire Prize for excellence in an essay or other project in French by a junior or a senior on campus to Luciana Aguilla ’12J, Christianne Beasley ’12 and Hannah Frydman ’12
The Ruth Alpern Leipziger Prize to an outstanding French major participating in the Junior Year Abroad Program in Paris to Chelsea Bartholomew ’13, Eleanor Cook ’13, Hadley Leary ’13 and Claire Li ’13
The Josephine Ott Prize to a junior in Paris or Geneva for her commitment to the French language and European civilization to Julia Hladky ’13, Josseline Matute ’13, Isabelle Lopez ’13, Lisa Saladin ’13 and Keturah Williams ’13
The Rousseau Prize for academic excellence awarded to a Smith or non-Smith student studying with the Junior Year Abroad Program in Geneva to Sabrina Camboulives ’13, Chelsea Gelbart ’12, Galya Metanova ’13J and Elizabeth Moulic ’13
The Voltaire Prize to a first-year student or a sophomore for an essay or other project in French that shows originality and engagement with her subject to Jennifer Duckett ’14
Geosciences
The Mineralogical Society of America Undergraduate Award for excellence in the field of mineralogy to Emily Carbone ’12
The Marshall Schalk Prize in the Department of Geosciences for achievements in geological research to Lilly Dalton ’12 and Jenna Zechmann ’12
German
The Anita Luria Ascher Memorial Prize to a senior non-major who started German at Smith and made exceptional progress to Ashleigh King ’12; to a senior major who started German at Smith, has taken it for four years and made unusual progress to Diana Vega ’12; and to a student who knew some German when she arrived and whose progress in four years has been considerable to Emily Coda ’12
Government
The Dawes Prize for the best undergraduate work on political science to Nhung Bui ’12 and Alana Eichner ’12
History
The Vera Lee Brown Prize for excellence in history to a senior majoring in history in regular course to Kaitlin Hovanes ’12
The Hazel L. Edgerly Prize to a senior honors history student for distinguished work in that subject to Kristen Conner ’12
Italian
The Michele Cantarella Memorial “Dante Prize” to a Smith College senior for the best essay in Italian on any aspect of The Divine Comedy to Sophia Rossi ’12
The Anacleta C. Vezzetti Prize to a senior for the best piece of writing in Italian on any aspect of the culture of Italy to Elizabeth Forgiel ’12 and Leda Grossman ’12
Jewish Studies
The Sidney Balman Prize for outstanding work in the Jewish Studies Program to Carole Renard ’13
Landscape Studies
The Susan Cohen ’62 and Paula Deitz ’59 Prize in Landscape Studies for excellence in a thesis, paper or project that examines the science, design or culture of the built environment to Jessamine Finch ’12 and Jennifer Krain ’12
Mathematics
The Suzan Rose Benedict Prize to a sophomore for excellence in mathematics to Simcha Gilbert AC, Yu Jin ’14 and Laura Seegerer ’14
The Ann Kirsten Pokora Prize to a senior with a distinguished academic record in mathematics to Weici Hu ’14
Office of Multicultural Affairs
The Unity Award of the Office of Multicultural Affairs to the student who has made an outstanding contribution toward promoting diversity and multiculturalism in the Smith College community to Lisa Daniels ’12 and Katherine Lebron ’12
Music
The Harriet Dey Barnum Prize for outstanding work in music to the best all-around student of music in the senior class to Alexandra Ghiz ’12 and Nicole Glotzer ’12
The Constance Kambour Edwards Prize to the student who has shown the most progress in organ to Sarah Anderson ’12
The Ida Deck Haigh Memorial Prize for distinguished achievement in piano to Marisa Cheng ’13
The Sarah Hamilton Memorial Prize for the best essay on music to Kayla Carpenzano ’12
The Emogene Mahony Memorial Prize for proficiency at the organ to Seongyeon Bae ’15 and Anna Smith ’15
The Judith Raskin Memorial Prize for the outstanding senior voice student to Kayla Carpenzano ’12
The Ernst Wallfisch Prize to a student of music for outstanding talent, commitment and diligence to Kayla Carpenzano ’12
Philosophy
The Florence Corliss Lamont Prize for excellent work in philosophy to Molly Gavin ’12 and Theresa Helke ’12
The John S. Mekeel Memorial Prize to a senior for outstanding work in philosophy to Emily Fuller ’12 and Angela Oliverio ’12
Physics
The Adelaide W. Bull Paganelli ’30 Prize for outstanding work in physics and high potential for further study to Adina-Elena Draghici ’12, Lauren Masiuanas ’12, Neelma Qureshi ’12, Androniki Tsakiridou ’12 and Julea Vlassakis ’12
The Frank A. Waterman Prize to a senior for excellent work in physics to Adina-Elena Draghici ’12 and Julea Vlassakis ’12
Psychology
The William Sentman Taylor Prize for significant work in human values, a quest for truth, beauty and goodness in the arts and sciences to Elizabeth Rosenfield ’12 and Ilana Teitelman ’12
Religion
The James Gardner Buttrick Prize for the best essay in the field of religion and biblical literature to Jennifer Eckert ’12
The Henry Lewis Foote Memorial Prize for excellence in biblical studies to Natalie Sargent ’12
The Jochanan H. A. Wijnhoven Prize for the best essay on a subject in Jewish religious thought written for a course in the Department of Religion or in the Program in Jewish Studies to Emma Cooke ’14 and Hunter King ’13J
Russian
The Department of Russian Prize for the best work in Russian literature by a senior majoring in Russian to Leah Jacobs ’12
Sociology
The Samuel Bowles Prize for the best paper on a sociological subject to Rebecca Rosen ’12
Theatre
The Yvonne Sarah Bernhardt Buerger Prize to the students who have made the most notable contribution to the dramatic activities of the college to Nicole Campana ’12, Claire DeLiso ’12 and Marya Peterson ’12
The Marilyn Knapp Campbell Prize to the student excelling in stage management to Marya Peterson ’12
The Denis Johnston Playwriting Award for the best play or musical written by an undergraduate at Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke or Smith colleges or the University of Massachusetts to Forest Hudes, Amherst College
The Samuel A. Eliot, Jr./Julia Heflin Award for distinguished directing in the theatre to Emma Weinstein ’13
The Peggy Clark Kelly Design Prize for a student demonstrating exceptional achievement in lighting, costume or set design to Claire DeLiso ’12 and Samantha Riiska ’12
The Jill Cummins MacLean Prize to a drama major for outstanding dramatic achievement with a comic touch in writing, acting or dance to Alanna McFall ’12
The Rita Singler Prize for outstanding achievement in technical theatre to Nicole Campana ’12
The Denton Snyder Acting Prize to a Smith senior who has demonstrated distinguished acting in the theatre to Ratna Amber ’12 and Emma Weinstein ’13
Program for the Study of Women and Gender
The Jeanne McFarland Prize, awarded annually by the Program for the Study of Women and Gender and the Project on Women and Social Change for excellent work in the study of women and gender to Erin Kelly AC and Heidi Waugh ’12
The Meg Quigley Prize, awarded annually for the best work in SWG 150 Introduction to the Study of Women and Gender to Mallory Merryman ’15, Lucy Prather ’15 and Katharine Walsh ’15
The Valeria Dean Burgess Stevens Prize, awarded annually by the Program for the Study of Women and Gender and the Project on Women and Social Change for excellent work in the study of women and gender to Rachel Johnson ’12