Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Outstanding Achievement in Anthropology: Mae Krause

This prize is given to a senior anthropology major who has done outstanding work in anthropological research.

Art History Research Paper Prize: Katherine DeRitis

This award is given for the best research paper produced on art history as judged by the faculty of the art and art history department. This competition is open to students who receive an A or A- on a research paper written for an art history course in previous quarters.

Studio Art Award: Briana Roberto (Painting), Charlie DiNapoli (Ceramic), Julia Lagosity (Mixed Media), Payton Stewart (Sculpture), Simon Lanzoni and Lydia Kim (Special Recognition), Nicola Simmons (Drawing), Natalia Ochoa-Zavalia (Painting), Dalia Suszko (Digital), Kira Ackerman (Sculpture)

This annual juried exhibition showcases the diversity of media and practices in our Studio Art Program. All Santa Clara students are given an opportunity to enter their artwork for a chance to be selected by a visiting juror to be featured in the exhibition. Prizes are awarded in each category (i.e. Sculpture, Photography, Painting, Drawing), as well as “Best in Show.”

×

American Chemical Society Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Advaith Harith

Sponsored by the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry; awarded to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in inorganic chemistry and whose future plans include a career in chemistry. The award consists of a personalized certificate and a letter of commendation.

American Chemical Society Award in Physical Chemistry: Advaith Harith

Sponsored by the American Chemical Society Division of Physical Chemistry; awarded to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in physical chemistry based on research and coursework. The awardee will receive an official certificate from the ACS Division of Physical Chemistry, recognition on their website and a one-year membership in the ACS Division of Physical Chemistry.

American Institute of Chemists Foundation Award: Jwwad Javed, Advaith Harith

Awarded to an outstanding senior chemistry major in recognition of a record of leadership, ability, character, and scholastic achievement.

Analytical Chemistry Award: Jack Petersen

Awarded to a graduating senior in chemistry or biochemistry who has demonstrated passion for and excellence in analytical chemistry, based on some combination of coursework and research experience.

American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry: Nico Licauco

Sponsored by the American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry; award led to a graduating senior in chemistry or biochemistry who has demonstrated excellence in organic chemistry based on a combination of research experience, coursework and a desire to pursue a career in chemistry.

John Gilbert and Stephen Martin Award in Organic Chemistry: Alisha Burch

Awarded to a senior chemistry or biochemistry major for outstanding performance in organic chemistry courses and/or research.

Professor Joseph F. Deck Award: Lauren Drake

Established in 1973, this award is given by the faculty of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to the outstanding student majoring in chemistry who has excelled in studies and undergraduate research, extracurricular activities, leadership, and generous tutoring of fellow students, while maintaining a "B" average.

Child Advocacy Award: Danielle Yabut

Established in 2014, this award is given to a graduating senior by the faculty of the Child Studies program who has exemplified Jesuit values of "Competence, Conscience, and Compassion" in service of children and families.

Child Studies Academic Achievement Award: Gabrielle Rosenberg

Established in 1995, this award is given to the senior child studies major with the highest overall grade point average at Santa Clara.

Pre-Teaching Award: Mikaela Dacanay

Established in 1995, this award is given to a senior child studies student judged most outstanding in scholarship and professional service who plans to go on to a career in elementary school teaching.

The Communication Department Prize Award: Jerry Wang

The Communication Department Prize is an annual award for the graduating senior who best meets the goals of the department based on academic achievement, collaboration with students and faculty, and a commitment to ethical communication. Alumni and friends of the department established the prize in 1986.

The Justin T. McCarthy Award:  Sarah Young

This award is given in memory of Justin T. McCarthy to the senior students who have excelled in oratory and developed the ability to express themselves in a given medium.

The Handlery Prize: Thomas Dunn

Established in 1947 by Rose Handlery in memory of her son, Raymond Handlery '34, this prize is awarded each year to the graduating senior who has contributed most to the success of student publications at the University.

The Artie Schmidt Film Award: Rena Zhang

Hazel Award: Madeleine Luther

The Charles and Barbara Hazel Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Economics is awarded annually to the graduating senior (or seniors) who have achieved superior academic performance as economics majors.

Christiaan Theodoor Lievestro Prize: Nadine Koochou

The prize is awarded to the English major whose Lievestro Prize Portfolio of essays best demonstrates a sustained, improved, and/or versatile ability to think and write about complex literary critical, cultural, rhetorical, or theoretical issues.

Katherine Woodall Prize: Nikhita Panjnani

The prize is designed to acknowledge excellent essays that analyze and/or interpret one or more literary texts or that examine issues in literary criticism or theory.

McCann Short Story Prize: Allison Hoff

The award is given to the undergraduate for an unpublished short story under 20 pages.

Shipsey Poetry Prize: Rhiannon Briggs

This price is given to SCU undergraduate students for an individual poem or group of poems.

Multimodal Prize: Rhiannon Briggs

The Lucky Hinckle Sustainability Award: Jules Holland

This award was established to honor the memory of Lucky Hinkle, longtime University staff member who worked diligently to promote recycling on campus, and is given to the graduating senior with a declared major in environmental science or environmental studies who, in the judgment of the environmental studies and science faculty, has made the most significant contribution to promoting a culture of sustainability at Santa Clara University and beyond.

The Environmental Studies Research Award: Sarah Young, Paulina Ursua Garcia

This award is given to the senior environmental studies major who, in the judgment of the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences faculty, has done the most outstanding work in environmental studies research.

The Environmental Science Research Award: Donald "Trey" Grimsley

This award is given to the senior environmental studies major who, in the judgment of the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences faculty, has done the most outstanding work in environmental science research.

Environmental Justice Award: Paulina Ursua Garcia

To be awarded to the ESS student from either major who best promotes the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the environmental field, through community or research work that promotes environmental justice and/or expands the participation of underrepresented groups in environmental stewardship.

The Matt Meier Prize for Excellence in Student Research: Bryce Nishikawa, Chelsea Ebisuya

Established in 1994 in honor of History Professor Matt Meier, a longtime supporter of the Ethnic Studies Department and one of the principal figures in the fields of Mexican American history and Chicana/o/x Studies, this award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in the production of original academic work centered on issues of race and ethnicity.

The Ramón Chacón Community Service Award: Karla Santos

Established in 2016 in honor of Dr. Ramón Chacón, one of the founding members of the Ethnic Studies Department at Santa Clara, this award is given to a graduating senior with a declared major in Ethnic Studies who has demonstrated sustained and substantive work with marginalized communities, either through Santa Clara University or outside of the institution.

McPhee Prize: Rosie Huang

Established in 2007 through the generosity of Lulu and John McPhee, this award is given to the student whose sustained achievement in history includes writing the most outstanding paper in a senior seminar.

The Robert P. Balles Mathematics Scholar Award: Christopher Phan

An annual prize of a minimum of $1,000 is awarded to the Mathematics major entering his/her Senior year with the highest cumulative GPA in Mathematics courses completed in the student’s first three years at Santa Clara University, as determined by the Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

The Paul R. Halmos Prize: Xiaoming Huang

This prize is awarded to the senior student or students with an outstanding academic record judged to have distinguished themselves in mathematics or computer science beyond the standard course work.

The Distinguished Military Graduate Award: Jordan Bennett, Nolan Cooper, Jack Maguin

Given to those graduating Army ROTC cadets who rank in the top 20 percent of all cadets nationally as determined by academic GPA and performance in the Army ROTC program.

The French and Francophone Studies Prize: Claire Andreski, Marielle Arnold

Established in 2012, this prize is given to a graduating senior with a declared major in French and Francophone studies who has shown academic excellence in the study of French and Francophone language, literature, and culture.

The Pancrazio and Giulia Infantino Italian Award: Emilia Locatelli

This award is given to cultivate and encourage the pursuit of the Italian language and culture at Santa Clara University. It is given to graduating seniors who have an understanding of the experiences, values, and traditions of Italian culture, primarily demonstrated by a declared major in Italian.

The Richard F. Rebello Phi Sigma Iota Awards: Christopher Lane (Spanish), Natalie Plaia (French), Amica Fontjin-Harris (Italian)

Established in 1986 by the family of the late Richard Rebello, a longtime University staff member, these awards are given by the Modern Languages and Literatures Department to senior language majors for outstanding accomplishments in the study of foreign languages and cultures.

French & Francophone Studies Honors Prize: Trent Lowe

The French & Francophone Studies Honors Prize rewards academically talented and highly motivated French & Francophone Studies Majors who develop an original research project, and contribute to intellectual debates in the fields of French/Francophone literatures, thought, cultures or politics.

Arrigo and Caterina Descalzi Prize: Simon lanzoni, Madysen Moreno, Kyle Kinard

Established in 1990 in honor of Arrigo and Caterina Descalzi, this award is presented to the senior music student who, in the judgment of the faculty of the Department of Music, best demonstrates technical and artistic growth and dedication to the art of music.

Charles Lampkin Award for Performance: Kyle Kinard

This annual award, established in 1989 in honor of Charles Lampkin, the late actor and University artist-in-residence, is given to the junior or senior African-American student who has demonstrated excellence and commitment to performance in theatre, music, dance, or television.

American Choral Directors Association National Choral Student Award: Natasha Moorjani

Established in 1990 in honor of Arrigo and Caterina Descalzi, this award is presented to the senior music student who, in the judgment of the faculty of the Department of Music, best demonstrates technical and artistic growth and dedication to the art of music.

Sourisseau Award: Laura Clark

Founded by Miss Eva Sourisseau in honor of her parents and family and recognized outstanding achievement in the study of philosophy. Given each year to the  Senior Philosophy major demonstrating outstanding achievement in the study of philosophy.

The David Blockus Award: Leyang Ding

Established in 2007 in memory of David L. Blockus, Ph.D., this prize is presented each year to the outstanding senior physics major, as determined by the faculty of the Department of Physics.

The John B. Drahmann Prize in Physics: Jwwad Javed

Established in memoriam in 2001 by Jean Drahmann, this prize is awarded to the graduating senior physics major who best exemplifies the hard-working and earnest values of John B. Drahmann, longtime dean of sciences and professor of physics.

×

The Amos Dana Award for Distinction in Public Service: Maile Belnap

This award is named for our late colleague, Amos Leon Dana, a Santa Clara alumnus (Class of 1962) who served 36 years as a probation officer, retiring in 1999 as deputy chief probation officer of San Mateo County. For twenty years, Amos also taught a course in Criminal Justice in our department. In his honor, this award recognizes excellent performance and personal growth through hands-on public sector experience; potential for success in a career or studies in the public sector; and/or outstanding research related to a public sector project.

The Michael Shallo, S.J., Prize: Emma Samaniego

Established by the University in 1955 in honor of Michael Shallo, S.J., the Shallo Prize is given by the faculty of the Department of Political Science to the student(s) judged most proficient in political science.

Bernard L. Kronick Award: Alexandra Del Biaggio, Josie Coller, Graciela Soria

The Political Science Department honors student research and writing with the Bernard L. Kronick Award. Established in 1986, this award is named in honor of Barney Kronick, who taught Comparative Politics for nearly 30 years and who served multiple terms as department chair.

The Wilhelm Wundt Award: Tiffany Lam

Award for excellence in academics, research, & service. Established in 1988, this award is given annually by the faculty of the Department of Psychology to the senior student/s who has excelled in scholarship, research, and service to the department.

The Eleanor Willemsen Community Service Award: Dani Yabut

Established in 2019 in honor of Eleanor Willemsen, Professor emeritus and child advocate, this award is given to a psychology major who has demonstrated a dedication to community service within Santa Clara University or outside of the institution.

Robert M. Numan Student Scholar Award: Angelina Valenza

The Public Health Science Senior Scholar Award: Mae Krause

This award is given annually to a graduating senior Public Health Science major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, while actively and effectively promoting community health through extracurricular activities.

The Public Health Science Senior Prize in Community Engagement: Kathryn "Kate" Rickwa

This award is given annually to a graduating senior Public Health Science major who has exemplified the principles and practices of health equity and social justice through applied community engagement.

Religious Studies Major Prize: Laura Clark

Established in 1950 by the president of the University, this prize is given each year by the faculty of the Department of Religious Studies to the department major most proficient in all aspects of religious studies.

Tennant C Wright, S.J., Minor Prize: Marie Jordaan

Established in 2003, this prize is given annually by the faculty of the Department of Religious Studies to the religious studies minor most proficient in the religious studies program.

Theodore Mackin Senior Thesis Award: Blasie Burbank

Established in 1994 in memory of Theodore Mackin, this prize is given each year by the faculty of the Department of Religious Studies to the religious studies major with the best senior research paper.

The Joseph A. Grassi Social Justice Award: Daniel Martinez

Established in 2003, this award is given annually to the student who has exhibited the greatest commitment to social justice.

Witold Krassowski Sociology Award: Bryce Akira Nishikawa (1st Prize), Lauren Kelley (2nd Prize), Lia Kraaijvanger (2nd Prize)

Established by the department, alumni, and friends in honor of Professor Witold Krassowski, the first sociologist at Santa Clara University and the first chair of the department, this award is given to a senior sociology major who has written a sociological research paper in a sociology course that is considered of exemplary quality.

Sociology Alumni Award for Excellence in Community-Based Research: Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca, Kelly Lelapinyokul, Christina Nelson

Established in 2016, this prize is given annually by the faculty of the Department of Sociology to a graduating senior for excellence in applied sociological research.

Sociology Academic Excellence Award: Bryce Akira Nishikawa, Kelly Lelapinyokul, Naomi Yang

Established by the department, alumni, and friends in honor of Professor Witold Krassowski, the first sociologist at Santa Clara University and the first chair of the department, this award is given to a senior sociology major who has written a sociological research paper in a sociology course that is considered of exemplary quality.

William H. Leahy Prize: Ariana Chavez-Magana

Established in 1925 in honor of William H. Leahy by his wife and his brother, James, this prize is awarded to the graduating senior who has made the greatest contribution to dramatic art at Santa Clara as determined by the members of the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Anna Halprin Dance Award: Mia Kanter

This award honors the extended creative and socially active career of Anna Halprin, a pioneer in the art of dance. This award is given to the graduating senior dancer who best exemplifies excellence in dance and an awareness of community values while at Santa Clara University.

The Audre Lorde Social Justice Award: Grace Yonkers-Talz, Emma Samaniego

The Audre Lorde Social Justice Award recognizes graduating seniors who exemplify the activist ideals of women's and gender studies.

The Nina Leibman Essay Competition: Nadine Koochou

Recognizes a student essay or project addressing the general topic of women and creative expression. The essay is judged by the faculty of the Women's and Gender Studies Department.

The Mary Gordon Prize: Madison Hall, Rachel Stattion

Established in 1992 in honor of Professor Mary Gordon, founder of the Women's Studies Program and its first director, this prize is awarded to the Women's and Gender Studies Department student who writes the best essay on a women's or gender studies topic.