2021 Recipients
Student Academic Awards
THE BERNARD BOYD MEMORIAL PRIZE
Recipient: Robert Rhinehart
This award was established in 1979 by the Department of Religious Studies in memory of Bernard Boyd, James A. Gray Professor of Biblical Literature from 1950 to 1975. A monetary prize is presented annually to the member of the senior class majoring in Religious Studies who has been selected by a faculty committee as most outstanding in academic achievement.
THE KENNETH C. ROYALL AWARD
Recipient: Nate Campbell
This award is presented in memory of UNC graduate General Kenneth C. Royall. As Secretary of War, General Royall was instrumental in establishing the Air Force as a separate service. This award is given annually to the senior Air Force ROTC cadet at UNC who demonstrates excellence as an officer in scholarship and leadership.
THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL AWARD
Recipient: Kyle Walker
Established in 1976, this award honors Army General George C. Marshall. General Marshall formulated the Marshall Plan and was the only soldier to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This award is presented to the senior Army cadet who excels in professional excellence, leadership, scholarship, personal integrity and selfless service to the nation.
THE ARCHIBALD HENDERSON MATHEMATICS MEDAL
Recipient: Alvis Zhaodh
The Major William B. Cain Award was established in 1908, and its name was changed in 1931 to the Archibald Henderson Mathematics Medal. A medal may be presented annually to the undergraduate judged by the Department of Mathematics to have demonstrated both a high degree of mathematical ability and the greatest promise of originality in the field.
THE WALLACE RAY PEPPERS AWARD IN PERFORMANCE OF AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE
Recipient: Imani Williams
This award was established in 1987 in honor of a professor in the Department of Communication. His teaching in the field of African and African-American literature and personal influence and example inspired his students in academic and cultural endeavors. It is given annually to the junior or senior in that department who is judged by a faculty committee to be most outstanding in performance of African and African-American literature.
THE JAMES M. JOHNSTON DISTINGUISHED SENIOR AWARD IN THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Recipient: Hanna Wondmagegn
This award, established in 1975, recognizes the senior student in the Johnston Undergraduate Program who is most deserving of recognition for outstanding academic achievement and for leadership contributions to the University and the Johnston Awards Program.
THE JAMES M. JOHNSTON DISTINGUISHED SENIOR AWARD IN THE NURSING PROGRAM
Recipient: Kelsey Buckner
This award, established in 1975, recognizes the graduating Nursing student and Johnston Scholarship Recipient who is most deserving of recognition for outstanding academic achievement and for leadership contributions in the School of Nursing.
THE JACQUES HARDRÉ UNDERGRADUATE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FRENCH
Recipient: Marine Elia
Established in 1989, this certificate and monetary prize are presented annually by the Department of Romance Languages to an undergraduate whose work in French language and literature has been judged most outstanding by a faculty committee. It was established in honor of Jacques Hardré, past Chair of the Department of Romance Languages.
THE STERLING A. STOUDEMIRE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SPANISH
Recipient: Micah Mullarkey
This certificate and monetary prize are awarded annually to a senior who has excelled in Spanish. It was established in 1974 by friends and former students of Sterling Aubrey Stoudemire in recognition of his fifty years as a teacher of Spanish and other services to the University, including Chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Chairman of the Faculty Committee on Buildings and Grounds.
THE RIA STAMBAUGH UNDERGRADUATE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN GERMAN
Recipient: Claire Staresinic
Established in 1987, this award recognizes the graduating student majoring in Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, judged to have achieved the most distinguished academic record in German language and literature. This monetary prize is awarded by the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, and is made possible by memorial contributions of friends and relatives of Ria Stambaugh, Professor of German from 1963 to 1984.
THE CAMÕES PRIZE IN PORTUGUESE
Recipient: Nicole Donzella
The Camões Prize in Portuguese is awarded annually to the outstanding undergraduate in Portuguese. This prize was established in 1975 with a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. The award consists of a certificate and a monetary prize.
THE MARY TURNER LANE AWARD IN WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES
Recipient: Genni Eccles
This award honors a senior, from any discipline, judged by the faculty in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies to have made an outstanding contribution through original scholarship and/or creative production on gender and feminist issues. Its purpose is to further academic research in the expanding field of Women’s and Gender Studies, which was established on the campus in 1978 by Mary Turner Lane, a tireless feminist, advocate, and educator.
THE PAUL DEBRECZENY PRIZE IN SLAVIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
Recipient: Stuart Wilson
This award, established in 1999, is presented to the graduating student majoring in Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures whose work in Central Europe, Russian or Slavic studies, is judged most outstanding by the Slavic and East European faculty of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The prize honors the late Professor Paul Debreczeny, a founding member of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, which merged with the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures in 2011. Professor Debreczeny was deeply committed to quality undergraduate education.
THE L. RICHARDSON PREYER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Recipient: Bryson Alexander
Established in 2002, this award is given to a senior judged by a committee of the faculty to have established the most distinguished record of scholarship in Political Science and service to the community.
THE ROBERT B. HOUSE MEMORIAL PRIZE IN POETRY
Recipient: Kieran Patel
This award in poetry honors the first chancellor of the University, a writer and friend of the literary arts. A cash prize is presented annually to a graduating senior who has done distinguished work in poetry. The recipient is selected by faculty members in the Creative Writing Program.
THE PATRICK F. EAREY AWARD
Recipient: Callie Mauser
Established by the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, the award honors the late Patrick Earey, a distinguished member of its faculty. Dr. Earey taught in the department from 1957 to 1987 and served as varsity swim coach from 1957 to 1975. This award is given to a member of the graduating class who has exhibited outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and leadership. The recipient is selected by a committee of faculty members and students from the department.
THE UNDERGRADUATE PRIZE IN ECONOMICS
Recipient: Katie Baker
This award has been established by the Department of Economics to honor excellence in economic studies. It is given annually to the undergraduate majoring in economics that is judged to be the most outstanding based on performance in major and related courses.
THE McNALLY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN GEOGRAPHY
Recipient: Mia Colloredo-Mansfield
This award, a monetary prize and an international atlas, is given annually to a graduating senior who is selected by the geography faculty based on superior academic performance. The award was established by Andrew McNally IV, Class of 1963.
THE HOWARD W. ODUM UNDERGRADUATE SOCIOLOGY AWARD
Recipient: Savannah Newton
This award was established in 1968 in memory of Howard W. Odum, who founded the Department of Sociology. The award is presented annually to the senior who is judged most outstanding by the department’s faculty on the basis of academic performance.
THE LOUIS D. RUBIN, JR. PRIZE IN CREATIVE WRITING
Recipient: Elizabeth Coletti
Established in 1987, this award honors a distinguished professor emeritus of English and scholar of southern American literature whose work with talented undergraduates in creative writing was widely appreciated. A monetary award is presented annually to the outstanding fiction writer in the senior class.
THE PAUL E. SHEARIN OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD IN PHYSICS (Recipient 1)
Recipient: Kate Richardson
This award, established by W.E. Haisley, Professor Emeritus of Physics, honors Paul E. Shearin, Professor of Physics, member of the faculty for 36 years, and for 12 years Chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. A monetary award is given to the member of the senior class majoring in Physics who is judged most outstanding on criteria of scholarship, scientific insight and professional seriousness. The recipient is selected by the departmental faculty from candidates nominated by the undergraduate major advisors.
THE PAUL E. SHEARIN OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD IN PHYSICS (Recipient 2)
Recipient: Max Kremer
This award, established by W.E. Haisley, Professor Emeritus of Physics, honors Paul E. Shearin, Professor of Physics, member of the faculty for 36 years, and for 12 years Chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. A monetary award is given to the member of the senior class majoring in Physics who is judged most outstanding on criteria of scholarship, scientific insight and professional seriousness. The recipient is selected by the departmental faculty from candidates nominated by the undergraduate major advisors.
THE MARC ADAM EISDORFER AWARD IN LINGUISTICS (Recipient 1)
Recipient: David Jackson
This award was established in 1998 by Sandra Eisdorfer in memory of her son, Marc Adam Eisdorfer, a graduate of the class of 1984. It recognizes the senior judged most outstanding in academic achievement in Linguistics.
THE MARC ADAM EISDORFER AWARD IN LINGUISTICS (Recipient 2)
Recipient: Graham Trogdon
This award was established in 1998 by Sandra Eisdorfer in memory of her son, Marc Adam Eisdorfer, a graduate of the class of 1984. It recognizes the senior judged most outstanding in academic achievement in Linguistics.
THE VENABLE MEDAL (Recipient 1)
Recipient: Paige Jacky
The Venable Medal was established in 1955 by Rho Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma and is presented annually by members of that professional chemistry fraternity to the two most outstanding seniors majoring in chemistry. Two medals are awarded. The selection of one recipient is based on scholastic and academic work within the chemistry program. The other is based on outstanding academic work, character, and outstanding contributions to the University community and to chemistry. The awards bear the name of Francis Preston Venable, chemistry professor from 1880 to 1930 and president of the University from 1900 to 1914.
THE VENABLE MEDAL (Recipient 2)
Recipient: Nehemiah Stewart
The Venable Medal was established in 1955 by Rho Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma and is presented annually by members of that professional chemistry fraternity to the two most outstanding seniors majoring in chemistry. Two medals are awarded. The selection of one recipient is based on scholastic and academic work within the chemistry program. The other is based on outstanding academic work, character, and outstanding contributions to the University community and to chemistry. The awards bear the name of Francis Preston Venable, chemistry professor from 1880 to 1930 and president of the University from 1900 to 1914.
THE WORTH AWARD
Recipient: Anna Evans
Established in 1883, this award was given annually in the Department of Philosophy through 1919. Reinstituted in 1977 by the department, this oldest academic award, based on course performance and faculty recommendation, is given for sustained excellence in undergraduate study of philosophy.
THE IRVINE R. HAGADORN AWARD
Recipient: Ralph Alberto
Established in 1983, the Hagadorn Award is given to an outstanding rising senior Biology major. The recipient is selected on the basis of academic achievement, excellence in biology research and contributions to the Biology Department. This award was established in honor of Dr. Irvine Hagadorn, former Chair of the Department of Zoology at UNC.
THE DONALD T. LYSLE AWARD
Recipient: Ben Weinberg
This award is for an undergraduate student majoring in either psychology or neuroscience and who has made exemplary service contributions. This award honors Dr. Donald T. Lysle who has served as Chair since 2007. Aside from his great service as Chair of a large department, he is known, in particular, for his compassion for others. Thus, it is fitting that the award which honors Dr. Lysle is an award which recognizes those who show exceptional concern and service for others.
THE CAZEL PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN HISTORY
Recipient: Kimathi Muiuri
The Cazel Prize in History recognizes an outstanding senior who has excelled in the study of history, contributed to the life of the History department, and shown a profound commitment to the values of the historical discipline.
THE GEORGE H. COCOLAS PHARMACY STUDENT BODY AWARD
Recipient: Anna Brown
This award was established in 1948 and renamed in 1998 in honor of Dr. George Cocolas, retired associate dean of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. It recognizes a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated the highest qualities of character, deportment, scholarship, professionalism, participation in extracurricular activities, and promise of future distinction in the profession of pharmacy. The award is given by the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Student Senate and the recipient is selected by the graduating class. Student Senate and the recipient is selected by the graduating class.
THE CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES AWARD
Recipient: Amruthansh Sriperumbudur
This award is given each year to one or more students graduating with the Minor in Entrepreneurship degree of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship. These students will have excellent grades in the courses of the Minor and will also have demonstrated excellence in application of entrepreneurial thinking in practical problem-solving in the social, public health, commercial, media, sports, computation, design, artistic or scientific fields.
THE PETER C. BAXTER MEMORIAL PRIZE IN AMERICAN STUDIES
Recipient: Josh Massey
Established in 1972, this award honors the outstanding senior in the Department of American Studies. Presented in memory of Peter Baxter, a student of American Studies, the prize is awarded to the undergraduate in that discipline who best exemplifies Mr. Baxter’s intellectual excellence, personal warmth, and contribution to the American Studies Program.