GS Students Honored at Annual Academic and Leadership Awards Ceremony

Yesterday evening, the School of General Studies celebrated the academic excellence and outstanding leadership of students of the Class of 2019 at the Academic Prizes and Student Leadership Awards Ceremony.

May 08, 2019

Guests of the award winners joined faculty and administrators in recognizing the achievements of more than 100 students in the GS undergraduate and Postbac Premed programs. The ceremony was held in Low Memorial Library.

Award for Leadership Excellence

Alumni Key Award: Yona Aryeh Kornsgold
Awarded to a graduating senior for exceptional achievement and ongoing commitment to leadership and service to the School of General Studies community.

Campbell Award: Raisa Flor
Awarded to a student leader who shows exceptional leadership and Columbia spirit as exemplified by Bill Campbell '62CC, '64TC.

Dean's Citation, Undergraduate: Mark Franklin
Dean's Citation, Postbac Premed: Riva Letchinger & Sarah Jednak
Awarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to outstanding leadership and service to the School of General Studies community throughout their academic tenure.

Honorary Owl Award: Adam He, Columbia College
Awarded to a Columbia student at a school other than GS who has made a contribution to the School of General Studies community through their leadership and service this academic year.

Change Agent Award: Isaac Scott, Jonathan Criswell, Rachel Ballew, Sonya Levine
Awarded to a group of students who have made impactful contributions through their dedication to equity, inclusion, and social justice to the School of General Studies and the Columbia community

Spirit Award
Awarded to a select group of students who have made outstanding contributions through their dedication to leadership and service to the School of General Studies and Columbia University.

Undergraduate
Andrew Goulian, Bina Bansinath, Crosby Kisler, Michael Higgins, Nicole Rodgers, William Veitch

Postbac Premed
Catherine Jennings, Christopher Bellaire, Donna Chesnova, Huda Algasas

Service Award
Awarded to students who have distinguished themselves this academic year with a dedication to service and leadership within the School of General Studies and Columbia University community.

Undergraduate
Humaira Awal, Steven Ballew, James Benbrook, Gabrielle Bernard, Daniela Bernstein, Avidan Brown, Megan Caldarazzo, Nathan Canadas, Michelle Capuno, Estrella Castillo, Reema Danaf, Douglas de Lancastre, Shelby Elsbree, Ellie Frith, Roseanna Gibbs, Melody Gomez, Justinas Grigaitis, Sarah Haiken, Olivia Hartzell, Merrill Healey, Sitara Herur-Halbert, Matthew Hess, Elinor Hitt, Yasmeen Ibrahim, Rya Inman, Samantha Jean, Hana Joy, Jake Law, Joshua Lefkow, Jamie Lerner-Brecher, Matthew Linsky, Jacob Lirio, Shannie Lotan, Jonathan Lubash, Eric Lunzer, Sharisse McClure, Justin Niece, Ruben Ordonez-Parra, Nathaniel Padre, Michelle Page, Eytan Penn, Aaron Pickard, Andrew Placido, Karla Puga, Lindsey Rubin, Ben Segev, Parvir Sidhu, Sharanya Sivakumar, Katarina Skoko, Nadav Steinmetz, Piragathesh Subramanian, Karl Sully Guerrier, Shernelle Thomas, Chris Thompson, Erika Torres Adorno, Michael Towey, Peter Trevino, Jacquelyn Viggiano, Max Waldroop, Jason Walker, Anne Whitney, Sondra Woodruff

Postbac Premed
Lucy Aaron, Carlos Arciniegas, Subin Chung, Cameron Collins, Joie Cooper, Lauren Crabbe, Chris Devita, Erin Evans, Britney Hatcher, Isabella Levy, Allison Lonstein, Evangelia Mavrogiorgos, Blessing Mbamalu, Moorea Morgan, Monica Raiss, Siena Rumbough, Ashley Seidensticker

GS Student Council (GSSC) Excellence in Service Awards
Awarded to a faculty member, a teaching assistant, and an administrator who have made exceptional contributions to the School of General Studies community and its student body.

GSSC Excellence in Teaching Award: Katharine McIntyre
Lecturer, Department of Philosophy

GSSC Excellence in Teaching Assistance Award: Shahar Kaminsky
Computer Science, Columbia University

GSSC Excellence in Administration Award: Amber Griffiths
Senior Assistant Dean of Students, School of General Studies

Academic Prizes

Dean’s Prize in Anthropology 
Awarded for excellence in the study of anthropology 
Katarina Skoko

Dean’s Prize in Creative Writing 
Awarded for excellence in the study of creative writing 
Rachel Hope Churchill

Dean’s Prize in Economics 
Awarded for excellence in the study of economics 
Justinas Grigaitis

Romine Prize in Economics 
In recognition of the best senior thesis paper in economics 
Justinas Grigaitis

Theodore R. Bashkow Award 
Awarded for excellence in a computer science project
Francis John Hinson

Jonathan L. Gross Award 
Awarded for academic excellence in computer science 
Rose Adrienne Orenbuch

Andrew P. Kosoresow Memorial Award 
Awarded for excellence in teaching and service in computer science 
Graham Philip Patterson
Shahar Kaminsky

Professor John Angus Burrell Memorial Prize 
Awarded for distinction in English and comparative literature 
Wan Yii Lee
Megan Emily Evershed

Lillian L. Hacker Prize 
Awarded for excellence in the study of sociology 
Xinghe Pan

Herbert H. Lehman Prize 
Awarded for outstanding accomplishments in the study of history 
Yen Ba Vu

Garrett Mattingly Thesis Prize in History 
Awarded for a senior thesis of superior distinction in any historical field and period
Yen Ba Vu

Antonio G. Mier Prize 
Awarded for excellence in the study of Spanish 
Emma Aidee Vadillo Quesada

Jennifer A. Pack Prize 
Awarded for excellence in the study of neuroscience and behavior 
Juan Esteban Guerrero

Stacy M. and Russell D. Paul Prize 
Awarded for excellence in the study of psychology 
Laurin Jessica Gagne
Naomi Leah Greenfield

Arthur Ross Foundation Award 
Awarded for excellence in the study of political science 
Yona Aryeh Kornsgold

Phyllis Stevens Sharp Fellowship 
Awarded to support research in American politics or policymaking 
James Takashi Quinn

Judith Lee Stronach Memorial Prize 
Awarded for outstanding contributions in art history or archaeology 
Nazira Benzi Lyrio