2023-2024 College Award Winners | College Honors & Awards

LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Award

The LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Award is a student prize sponsored by UChicago Alumni Pride and the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality. The award is given annually to honor exceptional contributions that advance and support the interests of the LGBTQ+ community and is open to current UChicago undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing. The awardee receives a prize of $500 and the honor of the opportunity to speak publicly about the significance of their work and introduce the invited distinguished speaker at the coming year’s OUTstanding Speaker Series lecture.

Pietro Juvara

Adlai Stevenson Global Studies Thesis Prize Award

This award goes to the best Global Studies BA thesis that has an international or global theme.

Gillian Gordon
Sonia Stadler

Amos Alonzo Stagg Medal

Awarded to senior male athletes who have combined athletic performance with scholarship, ability, leadership, character, and significant contributions to team success.

Garrett Clasen

Asada Eiji BA Thesis Prize

This Prize is named for the first recipient of a Ph.D. by the University of Chicago in 1893. Professor Asada Eiji went on to enjoy an illustrious career at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

Aaron Huang
Lily Song

Astronaut Scholarship

A highly selective merit-based national scholarship given to the best and brightest university students who excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Ry Papadopoulos

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Provides up to two years of support for second- and third-year students pursuing research careers in mathematics or the sciences.

Sarah Kress
Eva McCord
Josh Pixley

Beinecke Scholarship

Nationally competitive fellowship that supports third-year students who plan to attend graduate school in the arts, humanities or social sciences.

Arnie Campa

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Sponsored by the US Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships provide up to $5000 to support students studying abroad.

Maimouna Abdulmumin
Isabel Alvarez
Ash Arian
Faith Augustine
Santiago Baca
Nancy Martinez
Florence Ukeni

Best Honors Thesis or Essay in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Studies

Awarded annually for the best thesis or essay written by a graduating senior who majored in HLBS. Papers will be nominated by faculty in HLBS. BA theses will automatically be considered.

Miller Dunbar

Best Human Rights BA Thesis

The Pozen Family Center for Human Rights sponsors an annual essay competition to recognize excellence in writing about human rights.

Emma Kreisler
Adwoa Nkansah-Amankra

Brian J. Baldea MVP Award

Presented to a baseball player who, by vote of his teammates, has made the greatest contribution to the team through leadership, commitment and skill.

Braden Jirovec

Bridge Builder Award

Recognizes students who have worked to establish or support connections between student groups or individuals. The areas of collaboration can include collaborative events, exploration of diverse cultures, education about issues that have challenged the campus, or other multicultural offerings.

Abbey Piatt Price
Maggie Rivera

Campus Life and Leadership Award

Presented to graduating students who have demonstrated leadership in a single co-curricular endeavor and subsequently improved the quality of life on campus.

Zoë Benjamin
Ivvy Hicks
Mayher Kaur
Annabel Mendoza

Charles M. Payne BA Thesis Prize

This prize is awarded by the Committee on Education to a B.A. thesis that exemplifies the highest qualities of originality, disciplinary rigor, and relevance to the cause of improving education, broadly conceived. Because education is a multi-disciplinary field, the selection committee consists each year of COE faculty and PhD students who collectively have expertise to evaluate submissions representing the applicants’ respective disciplines. Students enrolled in any program of study in the College are encouraged to apply, so long as their thesis involves substantive treatment of a topic in education research.

Audrey Rogerson

College Outstanding New Leader Award

Awarded to first- and second- year students for exemplary contributions to student life while showing further promise as student leaders.

Joachim Sciamma

Critical Language Scholarship Program

A United States Department of State program, supports intensive summer language study in thirteen critical-need foreign languages at overseas language institutes.

Andrew Edmondson
Asher Hansen
Elijah Perkins
Lily Potter

DAAD Short-term Scholarship

The DAAD was founded in Heidelberg in 1925 on the initiative of a single student and is one of the most important funding organizations in the world for the international exchange of students to and from Germany. It funds summer language study for students across all disciplines and year-long stays for individual research or to study for a German Masters degree. The University of Chicago was named a contact university with DAAD in 1953 by then-chancellor Konrad Adenauer.

Lekha Masoudi
Hongyi Meng
Peter Scheidt
Jason Wu

David Blair McLaughlin Prize

Presented for essays written by students in the graduating class demonstrating special skill and sense of form in the writing of English prose.

Cynthia Ma
Hilary Shi

David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship for Study Abroad

Supports immersive study of the language and culture of a country critical to U.S. national security.

Emma Janssen
Aida Krzalic
Alexandra LeBaron

David L. Fulton Prizes for Orchestral Excellence

Awarded to one or more outstanding student string-instrument players in the University Symphony Orchestra who have consistently demonstrated the highest level of musical accomplishment on their instruments, as well as extraordinary commitment to the Orchestra.

Emily Dow
Ken Johnson
Samantha Ma
Sonia Stadler
Raphael Stone

David W. Grainger Senior Scholarship

Presented to a third year Physics student who shows particular interest and aptitude in the laboratory as well as outstanding proficiency in formal course work.

Luke Martin

Davis Projects for Peace Program

Provides up to $10,000 in summer funding for grassroots projects that focuses on conflict resolution, reconciliation, and building understanding. Projects may be individual or collaborative.

Mónica Ruiz

Dennis Hutchinson BA Thesis Prize

Awarded annually to the student who has written the best BA thesis in the Law, Letters, and Society major.

Marie Ardy

Dr. Aizik Wolf Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship in Human Rights

This fellowship from the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights supports one year of work after graduation at an organization dedicated to human rights. Dr. Aizik Wolf, AB’77 created the fellowship to help University of Chicago College graduates launch their own careers in human rights and social justice.

Noah Tesfaye

Earl R. Franklin Research Fellowship in Psychology

Supports student summer research projects in Psychology.

Candelas Distefano
Huyen-Anh Giang
Karen Tu

Edith Ballwebber Prize

Presented to female athletes who have demonstrated outstanding athletic performance, team leadership, initiative, and improvement and who have contributed significantly to the Women's Athletic Association.

Natalie Antin
Kate Gross
Paige Heffke
Delaney Romanchick

Edward M. ("Ted") Haydon Medal

Awarded to a male track and field athlete who has contributed significantly to the sport through performance, leadership, and overall contribution.

Simon Dixon

Ellis Bonoff Kohs Award for Orchestral Excellence

Awarded to one or more outstanding student musicians in the University Symphony Orchestra who have consistently demonstrated the highest level of musical accomplishment on woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments, as well as extraordinary commitment to the Orchestra.

Jasper Heymann

Elsie F. Filippi Memorial Prize in Poetry

Presented to a student in the College who demonstrates distinction in poetic composition or in the study of poetry.

Honi Pein

Excellence in Academic & Research Support in Data Science

Presented to students who have made an extraordinary contribution to learning and teaching through commitment, engagement, and teamwork.

Noa Perlmutter
Douglas Williams

Francis X. Kinahan Memorial Prize

Awarded to the graduating senior who has made the most significant contributions to University Theater.

Jessica Aaron
Danielle Yablonovskiy

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Highly regarded award that provides a year of support for graduating students to engage in study, research, or teaching in a foreign country.

Hira Baig
Zoë Benjamin
Ralph Brown
Dora Gordon
Mari Knudson
Daisy Maslan
Hannah Ni
Ethan Reiter
Eseme Segbefia

George J. Mitchell Scholarship

Presented to students who have demonstrated academic distinction, commitment to community and leadership potential, the George J. Mitchell Scholarships support one year of study at one of nine universities in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Tommy Hagan

Gertrude Dudley Medal

Awarded to a senior female athlete who has contributed significantly in both leadership and performance to the women's athletic program.

Alesha Kelly

Heart of the Team Award

Presented by the Graduate Athletic Association to a senior who has provided life, spirit, and guidance, and demonstrated enthusiasm, perseverance and a positive attitude throughout her career.

Ivvy Hicks

Howell Murray Alumni Association Award

After his death in 1958, a group of friends established the Howell Murray Medal to recognize and award the level of student leadership, dedication and ambition embodied in the spirit of Howell Murray.

Myra Bajwa
Akash Bindal
Darya Foroohar
Will Harding
Raphael Jimenez
Chasity Kasir
Lina Klak
Camille Kuwana
Jefferson Lind
Nikita Munsif
Maya Patel
Audrey Scott
Narvella Sefah
Ceren Turk
Alyssa Wiegers

IFK Undergraduate Thesis Award

The IFK Undergraduate Thesis Award is awarded to the best undergraduate thesis dealing with topics related to the social and historical influences shaping the formation of knowledge, and most effectively crossing disciplinary and divisional boundaries in its research, argument, and conclusions.

Chloe Brettmann
Michael Donnelly
Claire Schmitt

J. Kyle Anderson Award

Presented to the senior baseball player who best exemplifies character, leadership, integrity, and dedication to the team while distinguishing himself with accomplishments on the field.

Jonathan Zeevi

James L. Hevia Global Studies Thesis Prize Award

This award goes to the best Global Studies BA thesis on Britain, Asia, or the Environment

Will Harding
Layla Haynor

James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility Thesis Prize in Public Policy

The Stone Thesis Prize is awarded each May to exceptional undergraduate students in Public Policy at the University of Chicago who have produced exemplary research on topics of inequality. This award, which recognizes work that is original, of scholarly excellence, and significant to the field, aims to create early-stage pathways into the study of inequality.

Renato de Angelis
Douglas Williams

Jane Morton and Henry C. Murphy Award

Presented to those students who have made unique contributions to improving university student life.

Eshan Dosani
Caden Traversari

Janel Mueller Undergraduate Thesis Prize in English and American Literature

Awarded to seniors who have written the best Bachelor's theses.

Manon Theodoly
Sammy Zimmerman

John Billings Fiske Poetry Prize

Awarded to the best original poem or cycle of poems by students in the graduating class.

Isaiah Escapa

John Haeseler Lewis Prize

Awarded in recognition of the best graduating senior majoring in Physics.

Luke Martin

Justin Palmer Prize

Awarded annually by the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations to the undergraduate major who submits the best Senior honors paper.

Anna Selden

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Each year the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program will identify a group of 100 high-achieving students from around the world with demonstrated leadership and civic commitment to receive full funding to pursue a wide-ranging graduate education at Stanford, with the goal of developing a new generation of global leaders.

Umar Siddiqi

Lawrence and Josephine Graves Teaching Prize

Awarded to graduate students in the Department of Mathematics in recognition of exceptional teaching of undergraduates.

Chris Wilson
Chris Wilson

Leonard Bloomfield Prize in Linguistics

Awarded to the graduating fourth-year linguistics majors with the highest GPA in linguistics courses.

Felix Chen
Elena Gill
Lars Nordquist
Jonathan Roven
Shixin Zhao

Les River Fellowship for Young Novelists

Awarded to a writer of fiction to support the development of a novel towards publication.

EJ Song

Lillian Gertrude Selz Prize

Awarded to women with the highest academic achievement after their first undergraduate year.

Alexa Darnaby

Louis Sudler Prize in the Performing and Creative Arts

Awarded for academic achievement in performing and creative arts

Leah Chappell
Isabella Diefendorf
Jules Fennell
Otis Gordon
Natalie Jenkins
Kevin Tang
Kendra Thornburgh-Mueller
Jordan Yi

Margaret C. Annan Undergraduate Award in Writing

Established in Ms. Annan's memory by her students, for third-year students in the College in recognition of excellent writing and for support of a writing project.

Cissy Choy
Reese Villazor
Alena Zeng

Margaret McKenzie Prize in Germanic Studies

The McKenzie Prize in Germanic Studies is presented to a College student for outstanding work in Germanic Studies.

Nate Drew

Marshall Scholarship

Awarded to only 40 students per year, provides full support for graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom.

Ethan Ostrow

Mary Jean Mulvaney Scholar Athlete Award

Awarded to the male and female senior athletes with the highest junior and senior grade point average.

Brianna Liu
Emile Sow

Marylyn C. Grabosky Prize for Research Related to Education

This prize is presented to selected current second or third-year students in the College who are writing a supervised independent research paper or a B.A. senior thesis related to education. It provides financial support to conduct education-related research that will result in a research paper or thesis.

Amma Bromley-Perry
Taryn Kim

Max Davidson Award

Presented to a member of each of the men's and women's tennis teams whose dedication to the team and to sports has excelled above all others.

Arjun Asokumar
Lauren Khou

Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

The Morris K. Udall Foundation awards 60 scholarships nationally to undergraduates who are committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. Scholars receive $7,000 scholarships for academic expenses.

Georgia Wluka

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Post-Graduate Scholarship

Awarded to a student-athlete who has excelled in the classroom and on a varsity team.

Kyle Garcia
Maya Patel

National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship

Supports three years of post graduate study for students of math and science.

Michael Barz
Clare Booth
Hugh Cairney
Alex Chang
Alyssa Guillu
Madison Huynh
Ben Kash
Zubin Kumar
Steven Labalme
Russell Legate-Yang
Jeffrey Li
Megan Morales
Sam Reynolds
Riya Sahni
Audrey Scott
Nathaniel Selub
Lucas Wang
Sonia Yuan
Jessica Zhong

Olga and Paul Menn Foundation Prize

Awarded for an original short story or novel extract by students in the graduating class.

Jordan Goodwin
Preranaa Srinivas

Olga and Paul Menn Foundation Prize (Play)

The Olga and Paul Menn Foundation Prizes for an original play of one or more acts by a student in the graduating class.

Carissa Greene
Taiz Rodriguez

Patricia R. Kirby Award

Presented annually to a female senior student-athlete, who through her participation in multiple sports or extensive support of multiple University of Chicago teams, her leadership in the Women's Athletic Association or significant leadership of her own team, and her exemplary service to the campus community has truly honored the legacy of the award's namesake, Pat Kirby.

Maddie Kelly

Paul R. Cohen Memorial Prize

Awarded to the graduating seniors who have achieved the highest academic record in the field of mathematics.

Michael Barz
Cameron Chang
Ben Scott
Ben Slater
Minghan Sun

Performing Arts Leadership Award

Recognizes the graduating student who has best demonstrated arts leadership in a single performing art organization on campus.

Arianna Wooten

Perry S. Herst Prize

Recognizes two graduating seniors in the College who have combined study with social responsibility.

Thomas Li
Harley Pomper
Mónica Ruiz

Pozen Center Prize for the Best BA Thesis on Race and Human Rights

Awarded for an exceptional BA thesis on race and human rights.

Sydney Ginsburg
Maggie Rivera

Quad Undergraduate Research Scholars

Competitive, open-discipline awards to support faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative inquiry experiences.

Jessica Aaron
Anushka Agrawal
Emory Apodaca
Jack Archer
Nico Barr
Sophie Barth
Dillon Bass
Kannon Bhattacharyya
Akash Bindal
Abbie Blenko
Henry Bloom
Pavlik Braverman
Sam Brink
Ryan Cairns
Theresa Christiansen
Charlotte Clulow
Chad Coen
Gabriel Correa Ramos Alves
Adera Craig
David Dang
Viviana De Alba
Ophelia Dominguez
Eshan Dosani
Sabina DSouza
Aaron Dyas
Emma Edwards
Ethan Eig
Emilie Faracci
Natalie Floreancig
Samara Friedman
Brian Fu
Claire Fu
Catalina García
Sarah Gaudron
Huyen-Anh Giang
Zach Gillis
Noah Glasgow
Esther Goldberg
Kruthi Gollapudi
Surya Gowda
Olivia Grobmyer
Victor Han
Zack Hassman
Laine Hirn
Sara Hoggatt
Vincent Hou
Bingjie Hsieh
Lyndon Hu
Michelle Hu
Sophie Hu
Kenny Huang
Aaron Huang
Judah Huberman-Shlaes
Madison Huynh
Natalie Jenkins
Matthew Jeung
Elena Jochum
Carina Kane
Smayan Khanna
Shannon Kim
Lauren Kingsly
Katie Ko
Stacia Konow
Sarah Kress
Rico Lau
Asaf Lebovic
Liam Leeming
Jack LeGrow
Xiangchen Li
Nick Li
Thomas Li
Romy Li
Mira Littmann
Maggie Liu
Jhan Liufu
Noa Lotan
Colby Lundak
Vespera Luo
Yoyo Ma
Sophia Madejski
Breanna Maestas
Charlotte Manier
William Mantzaris
Jessica Martinez Martinez
Mason McCormack
Liviu Megherea
Hongyi Meng
Gideon Mitchell
Sarah Muhlbaum
Shivam Mundhra
Ornella Ndatabaye
Dang Nguyen
Jenna Nimer
Adam Oppenheimer
Adi Orlyanchik
Ry Papadopoulos
Jinseo Park
Joshua Park
Kris Peng
Abbey Piatt Price
Manuela Pinheiro
Josh Pixley
Nino Pusateri
Rachel Quan
Krishna Raghavan
Ethan Reiter
Cailey Riggs
Emilio Rosas Linhard
Koby Rosen
Sam Rosenthal
Ishaan Roy
Isabel Salvin
Nora Sampson
Miguel Saucedo
Jake Schroeder
Emily Scott
Becca Sealy
Nathaniel Selub
Maryam Shariff
Elliot Sher
Natalia Solano
Lily Song
Raphael Stone
Yiming Su
Andi Sun
Leo Sun
Marie Tagliavia
Sunny Taylor
Youssef Tazoui
Elena Tiedens
Raj Tummala
Davis Turner
Rohan Venkat
Trisha Vinay
Alexander von Kumberg
Charlie Walsh
Eugenia Wang
Annie Wang
Cynthia Wang
Glingna Wang
Eliza Wiener
Sophia Winney
Jason Wu
Austin Xie
Walton Yan
Joseph Yeung
Lana Yevzlin
Lily Yu
Abby Yuhan
Songyang Zhang
Jarvis Zhang
Shuofeng Zhao
Bill Zheng
Cyrus Zhou
Guanchen Zhu

Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity BA Thesis/Capstone Project Prize

The Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity annually awards a prize of $750 for the best BA thesis or capstone project written by an undergraduate student which focuses on the RDI department’s flagship themes. Submissions are accepted from RDI or CRES majors whose BA focuses on topics related to race, diaspora, or indigeneity in a manner that reflects the transdisciplinary/interdisciplinary lens of the Department. Winners will also address their work’s meaningful implications for the writer, a set of communities, and/or the world, beyond simply “filling a gap in the literature.” Submitted works may take many forms, including analytic or critical essays, empirical research, or creative works.

Kelly Hui
Natalie Manley

Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity: 2nd/3rd Year Paper Prize

The Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity annually awards a prize of $500 for the best paper written by a current second or third year undergraduate student which focuses on the RDI department’s flagship themes. Submissions may come from any major and should focus on topics related to race, diaspora, or indigeneity in a manner that reflects the transdisciplinary/interdisciplinary lens of the Department. Submitted works may take many forms, including analytic or critical essays, empirical research, or creative works. They should be no longer than 15 double-spaced pages, completed in English. In order to be considered, the student must be nominated by an instructor.

Danielle Lopez

Richard P. Taub Thesis Prize in Public Policy

Honoring Richard P. Taub, the founder of the undergraduate Public Policy Studies program, the Taub Thesis Prize is awarded each May to three students majoring in PBPL whose BA theses reflect original and extensive research and exceptional writing.

Jonathan Garcia
Natalie Manley
Juliana Mothersbaugh
Becca Sealy

RISE Up Award

Through their engagement with members of the campus community, student awardees represent the University's shared commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion.

Isabeau Brathwaite
J.C. Rodriguez

Romberg Research Grant

The Romberg Research Grant supports intensive undergraduate language study

Walton Yan

Ruth Murray BA Thesis Prize

Honoring the best thesis in the area of women's studies, feminist criticism, or gender studies. The thesis competition is meant to sustain and encourage scholarship in women's studies, as Ruth Murray did during her lifetime.

Manon Theodoly
Yan Ying Mor

Samuel T. Fleck Prize in Italian

Awarded annually to the best paper written by a student in Italian.

Walker Byrd

Schwarzman Scholarship Program

Approximately 200 Schwarzman Scholars are selected annually from around the world through a highly selective process. Each scholar receives full funding to work towards a one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing—one of China’s most prestigious universities. As individuals who want to have a positive impact on the world, Schwarzman Scholars are selected based on their academic credentials, extracurricular interests, and leadership potential.

Wesley Fang
Xavier Wu

The Joyce Z. and Jacob Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies BA Prize

Recognizes the best BA thesis on a topic related to Jewish Studies.

Sydney Ginsburg
Daisy Maslan
Spencer Scott

The Joyce Z. and Jacob Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies Essay Prize

Recognizes the best undergraduate essay on a topic related to Jewish Studies written for a course.

Talia Idelson

Theater and Performance Studies Award

Recognizes the graduating student who has best demonstrated the integration of artistic and academic excellence.

Laura Mahaniah

Theater and Performance Studies Exemplary Mentor Award

Recognizes the graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions through mentorship to the university through their work with performing arts organizations.

Harper Learmonth
Ananya Saravanan
Emily Zhang

Theodore Lee Neff Prize for Excellence in the Study of French Literature and Culture

Awarded annually to the best BA Thesis written by a student in French.

Daisy Maslan

Thesis Prize in Health and Society

2 prizes are awarded annually to the two BA/BS theses that exemplify the highest quality of originality, disciplinary rigor, and relevance to health and society.

Lara Akande
Songyang Zhang

University Theater/Theater and Performance Studies Technical Award

In support of the graduating student who has made the most significant design and technical contributions to the University Theater during their collegiate experience.

Sophie Regales

Unsung Hero Award

Recognizes students who have positively influenced a program or organization from behind the scenes with a positive attitude toward goals, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence in the completion of tasks and duties.

Santiago Galan
Vrishank Saini

Walter and Fay Selove Prize in Physics

Recognizes outstanding undergraduates in physics, astronomy, or astrophysics.

Melody Leung
Xiaoyang Liu
Nathaniel Selub
Bill Zheng

Women's Athletic Association and Order of the C Most Valuable Player Awards

Presented to athletes who make significant contributions to their teams and best demonstrate skill, loyalty, and sportsmanship.

Evelyn Battleson-Gunkel
Will Boyes
Ren Brown
Aidan Cappellino
Garrett Clasen
Ronald Garriques
Ellie Gross
Bryce Hopkins
Derek Hsieh
Braden Jirovec
Rachel Keefe
Alesha Kelly
Maggie McInerney
Madeline Murphy
Sophie Pilarski
Andrew Ray

Wrobel Trophy

Presented to the wrestler who has scored the most team points during the season.

Ronald Garriques

Yenching Academy Scholarship

Complete funding for a Master of Arts in China Studies at Peking University. Program selects 100 students from around the world.

Ethan Reiter
Alice Xiuqi Tay