Knox College

Isaac Hughes '21 has been recognized as a top college senior by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, which named him as one of its student laureates this year. Hughes, from Vashon Island, Washington, is double-majoring in environmental studies and philosophy at Knox. Every year, the Lincoln Academy of Illinois honors one outstanding senior from each of Illinois' four-year colleges and universities, plus one student representing all Illinois community colleges. These students are selected for the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, which makes them Student Laureates of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The academy's website notes that student laureates "are honored for their leadership and service in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities."

Multiple students received academic awards from Knox's Anthropology & Sociology Department during the 2020-21 academic year. The Howell Atwood Award is given to the graduating senior doing the most outstanding work in anthropology and sociology. It was established by an anonymous donor in memory of J. Howell Atwood, professor of sociology 1930-60, and subsequently endowed by a gift from Mrs. Atwood.

Two students received academic awards from Knox's Biology Department during the 2020-21 academic year. The Inn-Siang Ooi Prize is awarded to the Knox student who has demonstrated skill in field biology, a commitment to conservation, and a concern about human co-existence with the other species of this planet. The Alvah Peterson Biology Prize is awarded to a junior or senior student majoring in biology who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance in biology courses and/or research.

The Elbridge Pierce Prize was awarded to Frances Alexia Santiago, who is majoring in business and management, during the Knox College Opening Convocation for 2020-21. This prize recognizes the senior who has made the greatest scholastic improvement since the end of the first year at Knox.

The Faculty Scholarship Prize was awarded to Bhumika Gupta, a physics major, at the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year. The Faculty Scholarship Prize, which is the highest honor that Knox faculty members give to a student, recognizes seniors who have exhibited exceptional academic ability while participating significantly in extracurricular activities.

The selective Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program recently selected five Knox students for grants to study abroad.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Theatre Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in performance, writing, and knowledge of theatre.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Psychology Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in research, writing, and knowledge of psychology.

Neha Motwani was awarded a prize from the Knox College Pre-Professional & Cooperative Program in Medicine at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The Sylvia and Irwin Jaffe Memorial Prize in Medical Sciences is awarded to an outstanding female student majoring in the sciences and who demonstrates an intention to pursue a career in medicine. Selection is based on academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, leadership, and service to others. It was established by Kent and Theresa Jaffe to honor Sylvia and Irwin Jaffe, grandparents of Erica A. Jaffe, class of 2008.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate scholarly and classroom excellence and community leadership.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Physics Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in physics research, problem-solving, and performance in the classroom and laboratory.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Music Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in musical composition, performance, and scholarly writing.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Modern Languages Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in research, writing, and knowledge in the field of modern languages.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the Mathematics Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate students who demonstrate excellence in their field.

Students at Knox College were awarded prizes from the History Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prizes celebrate excellence in research, writing, and knowledge of history.

Several students received academic awards from Knox's Biochemistry and Chemistry Departments during the 2019-20 academic year. The awards included Glenn M. Nagel Undergraduate Research Fund Awards in Chemistry and Biochemistry (2003), Leland Harris Award in Chemistry (1989), Russell P. Sutton Prize in Organic Chemistry (2000), and various ACS prizes.

As the academic year came to a close, several Knox students were awarded special prizes by the college. These prizes recognize students who strive for excellence in their academic roles at Knox College, as well as their roles in Knox community life.

Several Knox students have been invited to join Sigma Xi, the scientific research society. Membership in Sigma Xi is by invitation, and the most promising young scientists and students with demonstrated research potential are invited to join as associate members.

Chi Thi Nha Le received the Merritt H. Moore Prize in Philosophy from the Knox College Philosophy Department at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The prize, established anonymously to honor Dr. Moore, professor of philosophy at Knox 1933-55, is awarded to the author of the outstanding philosophy paper during the preceding year.

The Knox Economics Department recognized two students with awards during the 2019-20 academic year. The Vinton C. Johnson Prize is awarded to the outstanding senior economics major. It was established by Vinton C. Johnson, class of 1926. The Sylvia and Irwin Jaffe Memorial Prize is awarded to an outstanding female student majoring in economics based on academic achievement, participation in extra-curricular activities, leadership, and service to others. It was established by Kent and Theresa Jaffe to honor Sylvia and Irwin Jaffe, grandparents of Erica A. Jaffe, class of 2008.

Two students received awards from Knox's Educational Studies Department during the 2019-20 academic year. The Dr. Diana Beck Senior Honors Award is awarded to the graduating seniors (Elementary and Secondary) who best exemplify the following qualities: scholarship, good character, dedication to the field, success in student teaching, and consistently excellent classroom performance.

Several Knox College students recently were recognized as senior members of the National Political Science Honor Society Pi Sigma Alpha, which was founded in 1920 for the purpose of bringing together students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics.

Several Knox College students recently were recognized as members of the Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology, for which students are selected on the basis of academic achievement and interest in psychology as a science.

Several Knox College students recently were inducted into and recognized as members of the Nu Rho Psi National Honor Society in Neuroscience, which is by invitation and is open to graduate and undergraduate students who are making the study of neuroscience one of their major interests and who meet other academic qualifications.

Four students received academic awards from Knox's Classics Department during the 2019-20 academic year. The Lawrence Prizes in Greek and Latin are awarded to students in recognition of academic excellence in the study of first-year Latin, first-year Greek, advanced Latin, and advanced Greek.

Two students were co-recipients of an academic award from Knox's Asian Studies Department during the 2019-20 academic year. The Mikiso Hane Asian Studies Prize is awarded to the Knox student who has done the most distinguished work relating to Asian Studies. This interdisciplinary field encompasses a variety of subjects, including history, political science, anthropology, economics, and the Japanese language. The prize was established by colleagues and friends to honor Professor Mikiso Hane, Knox faculty, 1961-92.

Dance students were recognized for their achievements by Knox College's Dance Department during the 2019-20 academic year. The John Hofsas Prize in Dance is awarded to a junior or senior student deemed by the faculty to have given the most outstanding dance performance of the year, either in a public performance or in a dance performance class. The prize was established by Daniel R. and Carol Klimick Cyganowski, in memory of their friend and fellow Knox alumnus John Hofsas, class of 1970.

A variety of students received academic awards from Knox College's English Department during the 2019-20 academic year. Among these prizes are the William E. Brady Fund in English Literature, A. Eugene & Ella Stewart Davenport Literary Awards, and the Beverly K. White & Friends Creative Writing Prize.

Multiple students received academic awards from Knox's Anthropology & Sociology Department during the 2019-20 academic year. The Howell Atwood Award is given to the graduating senior doing the most outstanding work in anthropology and sociology. It was established by an anonymous donor in memory of J. Howell Atwood, professor of sociology 1930-60, and subsequently endowed by a gift from Mrs. Atwood.

Three students received academic awards from Knox College's Environmental Studies Department during the 2019-20 academic year. The Desmond Fortes Environmental Studies Prize is awarded annually to a junior or senior student who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance in environmental studies courses and/or research. It was established by friends and family in memory of Desmond Fortes, Class of 2000. The Lawrence L. DeMott Prize is awarded to a senior with outstanding grades who has taken all available earth sciences courses and whose senior project is focused on a subject/research relevant to the geological field. It was established by family, friends, and former students of Dr. DeMott, Knox faculty 1962-82.