Lawrence University

The Maurice Cunningham Phi Beta Kappa Prize is awarded to the third-year B.A. or fourth-year B.A./B.Mus. double-degree student with the highest grade-point average.

Established in 1910 by Emma Peabody Harper in memory of her father, George F. Peabody, The Peabody Prize in Latin recognizes the sophomore who has achieved the highest proficiency in college-level Latin. Taryn applies a writer's eye and a keen aesthetic sensitivity to their thoughtful, insightful analyses of the depiction of personality and humanity in Latin prose and poetry, from the assertive maid Photis in Apuleius' Metamorphoses to the complexities of the relationship of Dido and Aeneas in Vergil's Aeneid.

Established by students, friends, and colleagues to honor Professor Edwin H. Olson upon his 1989 retirement from Lawrence University, this award recognizes the top senior psychology major intending to pursue a career in a psychology-related helping profession. Sophia Shultz, a psychology major, is highly engaged in the department through serving as the Secretary of the Lawrence United Psychology Association and contributing to multiple research laboratories, where she has taken on novel projects like creating inclusive questionnaires for health research and evaluating storybooks for teaching children about Autism. She is also involved in community outreach such as helping to implement mindfulness training in classrooms and providing neurodiversity support and training for children and educators. Sophia plans to pursue a PhD in School Psychology to promote the mental health and emotional well-being of neurodivergent youth.

Established by students, friends, and colleagues to honor Professor Edwin H. Olson upon his 1989 retirement from Lawrence University, this award recognizes the top senior psychology major intending to pursue a career in a psychology-related helping profession. Daryian Matthews is a double major in psychology and philosophy. He has been an exceptional leader in the psychology department, particularly in his role as the president of the Lawrence United Psychology Association. In addition to his dedication to promoting professional development and social activities in the psychology department, he has conducted research on mental health screening in the Child and Adolescent Research in Emotion Lab. Daryian will continue that work through a full-time position at Samaritan Counseling, after which he plans to pursue a career in forensic psychology.

Established in 2023 to honor the Mielke Family-longtime supporters of early childhood programs, educational opportunities, and benefactors of Lawrence University's elementary teacher certification program-this prize recognizes a student who shows promise for teaching at the elementary level. Lydia Tomandl brings enthusiasm and delight to elementary teaching, crafting engaging lessons on interesting topics. She will have a positive impact on young learners, bringing them joy in learning.

Established by Margaret McConagha Faulkner and Alan C. McConagha in memory of their father, William A. McConagha, an economics professor at Lawrence University in Appleton from 1926 to 1956, this award recognizes the student who demonstrates the greatest excellence in the study of economics. Michael Thorson, from Mcfarland, Wisconsin, has been a top student in all of his economics courses. Michael has also contributed to the department as a tutor, providing excellent help for his classmates. He is completing a major in Economics, along with a minor in Data Science and a minor in Music. He also competes on the swimming team, with his name appearing on the list of Lawrence's top 10 performances for five different events. After graduation he will be working as a data analyst for Electronic Theatre Controls.

Established by Margaret McConagha Faulkner and Alan C. McConagha in memory of their father, William A. McConagha, an economics professor at Lawrence University in Appleton from 1926 to 1956, this award recognizes the student who demonstrates the greatest excellence in the study of economics. Andrew Larson, from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, has been a top student in all of his economics courses. Andrew has also contributed to the department as a tutor, providing excellent help for his classmates. He is completing a major in Economics, along with a minor in Data Science and concentration in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He has also been a highly decorated player on the tennis team for four years. After graduation he will be working as an Associate Demand Planner for Uline.

Established in memory of Professor Jessie Mae Pate McConagha, who taught French at Lawrence in the 1920s and was a student of European painting with broader interests in the Appleton visual arts community, this award recognizes interdisciplinary scholarship in art history within the humanities. Alex Alden is awarded the Jessie Mae Pate McConagha Prize for his interdisciplinary research on a once-lost 18th century portrait that was falsely reproduced online as a portrayal of the composer Johann Pachelbel. Working at the intersections of Art History, Musicology, and History, Alex explores questions of genius, representation, and digital reproduction. He makes the compelling argument that while the portrait doesn't depict Pachelbel, the many reproduced digital versions of the portrait have come to depict Canon in D, his most widely known composition. Alex is a clear and careful writer, attentive to nuance and detail.

The Latin League Of Wisconsin Colleges Award recognizes first-year and sophomore students at Lawrence University who demonstrate superior achievement in Latin during their first year of study. Lucy demonstrates a fine command of the forms and syntax of the Latin language, and her translations are graceful and accurate. The Classics department offers her this award with the hope that she will continue to pursue her interests in Latin prose and Roman politics.

The Lantern Community Service Award commemorates the Lantern service organization, the precursor to the current Volunteer and Community Service Center, and recognizes a student who has significantly contributed to the growth and well-being of people, animals, and/or communities through service or social activism. Leo has demonstrated exceptional dedication to community service through his involvement with the VITAL tutoring program, where he has contributed over 47 hours of volunteer work this academic year-more than any other Lawrence student. His consistent commitment to supporting youth in the Appleton area exemplifies the spirit of this award, as he has actively furthered the growth and well-being of others through meaningful, hands-on service.

Established by the Lettermen of Lawrence in honor of Dr. Ralph V. Landis, who served as physician to Lawrence students from 1926 to 1978, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics by a senior athlete. Zach Leslie, Chicago, Illinois, has distinguished himself on the baseball field and as a member of the Lawrence community. A first baseman for the Vikings, Leslie is a two-time All-Midwest Conference selection and a starter on Lawrence's 2022 and 2024 conference championship teams. A College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection, Leslie also is a member of the Academic All-Midwest Conference team and of Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. Leslie also has served as a key member of the university's Athletic Media Relations student staff.

The Hicks Prize in Poetry, established by John Hicks (an editor of the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, a U.S. diplomat, and a Lawrence trustee from 1911-1916), is given for the best submitted poem. Lauren Elizabeth Dahl - An accomplished group of poems about the tribulations of childhood within an increasingly troubled world. The speaker of these poems asks, again and again, "Can I make her little world a bit brighter / even if it hurts at first?" These poems do precisely that.

Established by John Hicks, an editor of the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, U.S. diplomat, and Lawrence trustee (1911-16), The Hicks Prize in Fiction is awarded for the best submitted short story. "New Life" by Henry Sandberg Hale is a story of growing up and of growing out of one's former attachments. Told with rich, evocative details and true-to-life dialogue, the characters reveal their deeper inner lives to the readers in a short span of time.

The Richard A. Harrison Award for Research in The Humanities and Social Sciences was established to honor the memory of Richard A. Harrison, who served as dean of the faculty at Lawrence University from 1992 to 1997. Kaitlin's project analyzes how user-generated memes within German-speaking social media communities perpetuate antimigratory prejudice during the "Migrationskrise" (migrant crisis) in Germany and the EU. The research aims to fill a gap in digital humanities by critically examining Germanophone meme culture and how online humor intersects with propaganda campaigns and contributes to real-world violence against migrants.

The Bertrand A. Goldgar Fellowship, established in 2009 by students, family, and friends in memory of Professor Bertrand A. Goldgar-Lawrence University's longest-serving full-time faculty member-offers a current Lawrence student, ideally an English major or minor, the opportunity to spend productive and inspiring time in London, following in the footsteps of literary giants like Swift, Addison, Fielding, and Goldgar himself. Adrian will be using the fellowship to investigate the relationship between the poetry of John Keats and the cultural meanings of "nature" in the Romantic period

Established by Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Gerdes in memory of their daughter, Christine, '74. It is awarded to an outstanding junior major who excels in the study of anthropology. TK is an excellent and engaged student who is highly dedicated to expanding our understandings of Anthropology and Geosciences and who embraces the holism of the field of Anthropology. TK has conducted research on how natural faults and soil quality impacted settlement over 10,000 years in the Near East, ethnographic work on classroom values amongst high school teachers in an Appleton area High School and is involved in health and nutrition research for Appleton area children. His outstanding performance in the classroom, and dedication to further learning outside of it, are exemplary and make him a highly deserving recipient of the Gerdes Award.

Established in 2023 by Harold and Mary Donn Jordan to honor their mentors at Lawrence University, Marlys and Peter Fritzell, The Marlys and Peter Fritzell Writing Prize recognizes the best analytical essay and/or creative writing related to nature or the environment. Peter Fritzell was a beloved English professor at Lawrence from 1966-2003, a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award (1988), and the Patricia Hamar Boldt Professor of Liberal Studies (1989-2003). His scholarship includes the influential book Nature Writing and America and a highly acclaimed essay on Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac. Hope Until Motioned Otherwise: Marling, Man, and Trailheads is a tramp through the expertly rendered landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as a journey through music, yearning, and relationship. The essay is inventively sectioned off by "trail markers," each one a signpost to the narrator's memories of a place and a love.

Established in 1993 by colleagues and students upon the retirement of Professor of German Dorrit F. Friedlander, after 42 years of distinguished teaching at Lawrence University, this scholarship assists German major students studying in Germany. Maddie Bublik stands out for her academic ambition and commitment to intercultural communication. She is a double major in German Studies and Physics and has been preparing to study abroad since middle school. A thoughtful student and integral part of our German Studies community, she exemplifies the spirit of the Friedlander Award. Herzlichen Gluckwunsch und viel Spass in Berlin, Maddie!

The First-Year Studies Writing Prize recognizes a student whose submitted paper demonstrates outstanding critical analysis and thoughtful articulation. The winning paper is selected by a committee of First-Year Studies instructors. Leigh's work offers a compelling and skillful analysis of how Rush and Smith in Rising and Blood Dazzler amplify the often-overlooked personal experiences of individuals affected by environmental disasters, thereby fostering a fuller understanding of these catastrophic events, their lasting consequences, and the critical need for change.

This award was established from the estate of Mrs. Farley and named also for her husband (Class of 1896), teacher of philosophy and psychology at Lawrence from 1904-40. It is awarded to a senior student excelling in the study of philosophy. In discussion Silas is fully stocked with ideas and ready for a high-quality philosophical tussle. For his classes Silas produces exceptionally creative, rigorous written work-such as his senior capstone which offers a defense of truth from fiction in a Platonic framework. To have Silas in the major was to have a major all the more vibrant, owing to his dedication to bringing students together around philosophy outside of the classroom. We thank Silas for his contributions to the philosophy community at Lawrence and look forward to hearing about his future accomplishments.

This award was established from the estate of Mrs. Farley and named also for her husband (Class of 1896), teacher of philosophy and psychology at Lawrence from 1904-40. It is awarded to a senior student excelling in the study of philosophy. Daryian approaches philosophical discussions with genuine curiosity and an interest in understanding competing perspectives. His intellectual talent and thoughtful manner are matched by an impressive dedication to his studies. Daryian's capstone project, on the use of deception in police interrogations, displayed both his rich appreciation for how issues under theoretical discussion have practical import, and his skill at evaluating and constructing arguments. We thank Daryian for contributing so much to the life of our philosophical community and are excited to see the great things he does in the future.

Established in 1912 by Herman Erb, a prominent German-born Appleton banker who immigrated at 16, this award recognizes upperclass students based on a submitted original German composition or scholarly essay. Alex Stanger's interdisciplinary and highly original German Studies Senior Capstone, Krise oder Kreise? Die Geschichte von Lawrence University und ihre Rolle in der Kolonialisierung von Wisconsin stands at the intersection of German Studies and Indigenous Studies and situates the founding of Lawrence University within the broader context of the colonization of Wisconsin. The work is thoroughly researched, intelligently argued, and makes a significant contribution to deepening our knowledge of Lawrence's history. Congratulations, Alex!

Established in 1985 upon the retirement of Miriam Clapp Duncan, an accomplished organist and Lawrence faculty member since 1949, this award recognizes a student who excels in organ and/or harpsichord performance. Helen has embraced the study of organ and harpsichord with great enthusiasm. She exemplifies the legacy and life of Miriam Clapp Duncan by challenging the conventional male-dominated aspects of performance and literature and her curiosity about music and the world will carry her far in her chosen disciplines.

This award commemorates the life and career of Clyde Duncan, professor of music at Lawrence from 1947-84. An accomplished performing artist and musicologist, Professor Duncan played a major role in creating bridges between the college and the conservatory of music. The award goes to an upperclass student with broad interests and abilities that combine music with literature, aesthetics, and culture. Helen Panshin receives the Duncan Award in recognition of her marvelous musick(ology)ing in a great number of musicology courses, as well as her weaving of musicological practices into the fabric of her intellectual, artistic, social, and political life. She possesses a remarkably strong, clear voice as an academic writer, and her musical performance as a keyboardist is deeply informed by her musicological interests. An avid concertgoer and wide reader of music criticism and cultural and political writings, Helen consistently draws illuminating and thought-provoking connections among elements of her musicology coursework and to other things she has read, listened to, or performed, often bringing attention to new sources of information and ideas.

This award commemorates the life and career of Clyde Duncan, professor of music at Lawrence from 1947-84. An accomplished performing artist and musicologist, Professor Duncan played a major role in creating bridges between the college and the conservatory of music. The award goes to an upperclass student with broad interests and abilities that combine music with literature, aesthetics, and culture. Kai Frueh receives the Duncan Award because of his consistently thoughtful engagement, attention to detail, and creative thinking in ethno/musicology courses, and in recognition of his exceptional interdisciplinary ethnographic research he conducted on living composers who incorporate bird sounds into their works in surprisingly varied ways. Kai's work raises questions as to the boundaries between sound and song, and human and non-human composition.

Established by Helen G. Daniels (Milwaukee-Downer College) in honor and memory of her mother, Margaret Daniels (Milwaukee-Downer music diploma, 1918; BA, 1919), this award recognizes a student who excels in keyboard performance. Qiaochuhan Li, a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with a Collaborative Emphasis and minor in Music Theory, and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and East Asian Studies, is an energetic, charismatic performer whose performances burst with character and personality. Awarded Honorable Mention at the 2025 Thursday Musical Young Artist and 2022 China Lanzhou International Piano Festival Open Competitions, she was also a finalist in the 2022 Schubert Club Scholarship Competition and finalist in Lawrence's annual Concerto Competition last year. An active chamber musician, Qiaochuhan has been studying and performing major collaborative works in the piano/string/woodwind duo, trio, and quartet repertoire with great success, and she champions works by underrepresented composers and those utilizing innovative, extended techniques.

The Donald Knuth Prize in Computer Science is awarded annually to the outstanding graduating senior majoring in Mathematics-Computer Science. Minjun Lee is notable for a strong work ethic and enthusiasm: his capstone project is commendable for its depth, completeness, and contribution to the broader Lawrence community.

Inspired by the department's founder, the F. Theodore Cloak Award in Theatre recognizes a young theatre maker who applies a theoretically and historically informed understanding of dramatic literature to their skillful and nuanced contributions to our productions. Nina Broberg excelled at a high level in the areas of acting, playwrighting, dance, and theatre production. Always seeking new challenges, Nina modelled for her peers how to forge opportunities for growth. Nina will be an able ambassador of our department's ethos by proving herself a true theatre maker.

The Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry recognizes a junior major for outstanding performance in analytical chemistry. Sydney Fontaine is being recognized for her exceptional attention to detail and tireless work ethic-hallmarks of a truly great analytical chemist. Whether calibrating instruments or interpreting data, Sydney approaches every task with precision and care, proving she's truly in her element.

Sponsored by the Northeast Wisconsin Section of the American Chemical Society, The Senior Chemistry Award recognizes an outstanding senior chemistry major. Marissa is an exemplary liberal arts chemist, as she has followed her values and interests across disciplines to serve science and the world. She has been an excellent student in each of the chemical subdisciplines and has been a constant role model and support for fellow Lawrentians, sharing her experience through her work as a teaching assistant in lab and lecture, through individual tutoring, and organizing open tutoring hours in the science learning commons. We are eager to see where Marissa's next steps take her!