Graduation honors are granted cum laude for a cumulative index of 3.600; magna cum laude for a cumulative index of 3.700; and summa cum laude for a cumulative index of 3.800.

ENCAENIA
On an evening preceding the University Commencement, the senior class of Fordham College at Rose Hill holds Encaenia, or Commemoration. Emerging from a tradition both biblical and medieval, solemn and light, Encaenia is the evening on which the College honors the graduating class with awards and prizes while the graduates in turn bid farewell in the persons of the Class Valedictorian and the Lord or Lady of the Manor.

Note: Awards with no Award Winner listed were not distributed this year.

THE CLAVER AWARD
The Claver Award, which is named for St. Peter Claver, an 18th-century Spanish Jesuit who spent more than 44 years ministering to African slaves in Cartegena, Colombia, is granted by the Jesuits of Fordham to a Fordham College at Rose Hill senior who exemplifies in an outstanding manner Fordham's dedication to community service.
2008 Award Winner: Michael Partis 

THE FORDHAM COLLEGE AT ROSE HILL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARD
A Fordham chair will be presented to a student who exemplifies the Fordham spirit of excellence in academic, service, and extracurricular achievement.
2008 Award Winner: Caitlin Ahern


PRIZES AND AWARDS (by department, program or activity)

AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT
The W.E.B. DuBois Award, named in honor of the leading African American philosopher and social commentator of the early 20th century, is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in the field of African and African American studies.
2008 Award Winner: Jasmine Velazquez

The Gary Lilly Memorial Award is bestowed on a graduating senior whose academic career has, in the judgment of the members of the faculty of the department, been marked by excellence and service.
2008 Award Winner: Michael Partis

AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM
The Orestes Brownson Award, named for one of the leading American intellectuals of the 19th century, a member of the Transcendentalist Circle, and a frequent visitor to St. John's College, Fordham, is given to a graduating senior who has majored and excelled in American studies.
2008 Award Winner: Caroline Gibbons

ART HISTORY AND MUSIC DEPARTMENT
The Art History Award is given to a graduating art history major who has shown excellence in course work, and an interest in the activities of the department of art history and music.
2008 Award Winner: Heather Reyes

The Stark Prize. Funded by a bequest of Dr. and Mrs. Werner Stark, each year the Stark Prize is given to a student in the department to enable him or her to "experience the art treasures of Europe."
2008 Award Winner: Michaela Ward

The Vasari Lecturer. Named after the great 16th-century art historian Giorgio Vasari, this honor is bestowed on an art history major who, in addition to demonstrating academic excellence, produces the best research paper and oral report in the department's Senior Seminar.
2008 Award Winner: John Waldron

ATHLETICS
The Kieran Award. Named for JohnKieran, the New York sports journalist and Fordham College alumnus of the Class of 1912, the Kieran Medal is awarded each year to the graduating student athlete who has achieved the strongest academic record in the course of studies in the College.
2008 Award Winner: Caroline Gibbons

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The Rev. Alan J. McCarthy, S.J., Prize is presented to the senior in the department of biological sciences who, in addition to demonstrating academic excellence, has contributed significantly to the department in service or research.
2008 Award Winner: Marc Tambini

The William Steinbugler Prize is presented to the senior who has had, in the judgment of the department of biological sciences, the best record of achievement in biology for three or four years.
2008 Award Winner: Austin Peters

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
The American Institute of Chemists Award is given to the graduating senior whose college career has been characterized by excellence and leadership, and who expects to make the profession of chemistry a lifetime career.
2008 Award Winner: Danielle O'Connor

The Rev. Robert D. Cloney, S.J. Memoria Award is given each year to an outstanding graduating Chemistry major. The award honors the memory of a beloved member of the Chemistry faculty and his dedication to undergraduate eduaction.
2008 Award Winner: Amy Maselli

The Leo K. Yanowski Award is bestowed on a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in analytical chemistry. The award, established and funded by his family, colleagues and alumni of the College, is given to honor and perpetuate the name of a devoted teacher, adviser and friend of Fordham students.
2008 Award Winner: Marsiyana Henricus

CLASSICS DEPARTMENT
The Rev. Richard E. Doyle, S.J., Memorial Awards in the Classics. Named for a long-time member of the classics department and a distinguished dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Doyle awards are given each year to the two students who, in the judgment of the members of the department, have demonstrated excellence in the study of Latin, Greek or classical civilization.
2008 Latin Award Winner: Michael Esposito
2008 Greek Award Winner: William Cerbone

COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES DEPARTMENT
The Rev. Ralph W. Dengler, S.J., Memorial Award, which honors the memory of a long-time member of the communications faculty and a scion of the Fordham family, is granted each year to a graduating senior who has demonstrated scholarly excellence in the field of communications.
2008 Award Winner: Meredith Engel

The Sigma Delta Chi Award is presented to the outstanding senior in the field of journalistic studies.
2008 Award Winner: Rochelle Ballin

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES DEPARTMENT
The Herbert W. Bomzer Awards in Computer and Information Sciences were established to honor the memory of the founding chair. The awards are given to the graduating seniors, who, in the judgement of the department, have shown excellence and promise in their respective disciplines of computer science and information science.
2008 Computer Science Award Winner: John Milner
2008 Information Science Award Winner: Sandra Lukic

DEBATE AND ORATORY
The Alumni Debate Award is given each year to that member of the debate team who has beenthe most cooperative and representative of Fordham during his or her senior year.
2008 Award Winner: Faye Cassell

The Class of 1915 Prize for Oratory is given each year to the outstanding speaker in the senior class of the College.
2008 Award Winner: Matthew Spotts

ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT
The Economics Award is presented to that senior economics major who, in the judgment of the members of the department, has achieved the highest level of excellence in the study of economics.
2008 Award Winner: Daniel Hoehn

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
The Alumni English Literature Prize is bestowed each year on the student who writes the best essay of approximately 5,000 words. (Details concerning the prize may be obtained from the English department.)
2008 Award Winner: Benham Jones

The Margaret Amassian Award, which is made possible by the generosity of Dr. Amassian's family, friends and former students, honors the memory of a beloved member of the English faculty. It is given each year to the graduating English major who has achieved the highest grade point average in the course of his or her college career.
2008 Award Winner: Laura Barker

The Claire Hahn Becker Award, which is named for a legendary member of the English faculty, is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in the writing of English. The award is intended to be used by the winner to help defray some of the tuition costs in the graduate or professional school of his or her choice.
2008 Award Winner: TinaMarie Lucchese

The Bernice Kilduff White and John J. White Prizes, which have been funded by the members of the White family to honor the memory of their parents, are awarded annually to the two students who demonstrated "excellence in the study of English literature" and outstanding achievement in "creative writing."
2008 Creative Writing Award Winner: Alexander Riccio
2008 Literature Award Winner: Maria Richardson

The Charles J. Donahue Prize is given to an outstanding student who has demonstrated excellence in the writing of English, in memory of our distinguished colleague, friend, and teacher.

HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
The Higher Education Opportunity Program Award recognizes the highest cumulative academic achievementattained in a liberal arts program of study by a student in HEOP.
2008 Award Winner: Edlin Rosario

HISTORY DEPARTMENT
The A. Paul Levack Prize, honoring a distinguished professor in the department and funded by his colleagues and alumni of the College, is awarded to the student who best demonstrates high scholarship and extraordinary service.

The Mooney History Award. Named in honor of Edward Cardinal Mooney, the late archbishop of Detroit, the award is given to the student who, in the judgment of the members of the department, has shown excellence in the study of history.
2008 Award Winner: Matthew Bova

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
The Rev. Ferdinand Verbiest, S.J., Award in International Political Economy is presented to the graduating senior who most clearly demonstrates scholarly excellence in his discipline. The award is named in honor of the 17th-century scholar, missionary and diplomat to China.
2008 Award Winner: Kara Noran

LATIN AMERICAN AND LATINO STUDIES PROGRAM
The Bernardo Vega-Rigoberta Menchú-Tum Award. Named for a Nobel Prize winning author and a pioneering Puerto Rican worker-intellectual, the award is given annually to the graduating senior who has, in the judgment of the faculty of the Latin American and Latino Studies Program, demonstrated excellence in the study of Latin American and Latino culture.
2008 Award Winner: Emily Weiss

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
The Senior Mathematics Prize is given each year to the graduating senior who, in the judgment of the members of the department, has most conspicuously demonstrated excellence in the study of mathematics over the course of four years.
2008 Award Winner: Arun Ravindranath

MEDIEVAL STUDIES PROGRAM
The Medieval Studies Award is given annually to the student in the Medieval Studies Program who has achieved significant distinction in the courseof studies offered by the Medieval Studies Program.
2008 Award Winner: Victoria Gelardi

THE MIMES AND MUMMERS DRAMATIC SOCIETY
The Rev. Alfred Barrett, S.J., Memorial Award is granted to the senior who has exemplified the highest ideal set down by Fr. Barrett in theatre at Fordham.
2008 Award Winner: Lenore Furlong

The Fechteler Award. Named in honor of Joseph Fechleter, the award is given annually to the senior who has made significant contributions to theatre at Fordham, either through acting, producing or playwriting.
2008 Award Winner: Kurt Graver

MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
The Anthony and Cecilia Guardiani Award for Excellence in the Study of Modern Languages, established by Ms. Mary Guardiani, UGE '62, to honor the memory of her parents, is bestowed annually on the graduating senior who has achieved the highest grade point average in the study of modern languages and literatures.
2008 Award Winner: Marisa Totino

The French Achievement Awards are given to those students who attain outstanding achievement in French. (Further details concerning the awards may be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.)
2008 Award Winner: Matthew Kenedy

The Heydt Senior French Award is given to the senior who has attained the highest achievement in French. (Further details concerning the award may be obtained from the Department of ModernLanguages and Literatures.)
2008 Award Winner: Gabrielle DiBuono

The German Achievement Award is given to the senior who has demonstrated excellence in the study of German.
2008 Award Winner: Kara Noran

The Steuben Society Award for Excellence in German is given to the senior who submits the best German language essay on a topic chosen by the members of the department. (Further details concerning the award may be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.)

The Francis R. Favorini Italian Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in Italian, has been endowed by his children to honor, his memory.
2008 Award Winner: Kathleen Knabel


The Italian Achievement Awards are given to the students in each year who have shown outstanding achievement in the study of Italian. (Further details concerning the awards may be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.)

The Istituto Italiano di Cultura Award is bestowed on the student who has demonstrated the highest scholarly achievement in Italian. (Further details concerning the award may be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.)
2008 Award Winner: Christine Lisa

The Russian Award is granted to the senior who has shown the greatest progress and proficiency in the study of Russian. (Further details concerning the award may be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.)

The Heydt Senior Spanish Award is given to the senior who has attained the highest achievement in Spanish. (Further details concerning the award may be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.)
2008 Award Winner: Laura Barker


PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
The Archbishop John Hughes Award. Named to honor the memory of the founder of the University, the Hughes Award is bestowed each year on the graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the study of philosophy.
2008 Award Winner: Matthew Spotts


The Jouin-Mooney Award. Named in honor of Edward Cardinal Mooney, the late Archbishop of Detroit, and the Rev. Louis Jouin, S.J., a Renaissance man and an early member of the Jesuit faculty of St. John's College, Fordham, the Jouin-Mooney Award is given each year to the graduating senior who has shownoutstanding achievement in the field of ethics and values.
2008 Award Winner: Justin Greatorex

PHYSICS DEPARTMENT
The Victor F. Hess Award is given annually to the graduating senior who has the best record of achievement and service in physics. The award is given to honor the late Dr. Hess, a long-time member of the physics department, who received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of cosmic radiation.
2008 Award Winner: Daniel Abrantes

POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
The William R. Frasca Prize. This prize, named for a member of the class of 1932 who served on the faculty of the department from 1938-1964, is awarded annually to the senior who has displayed outstanding achievement in the study of political science.
2008 Award Winner: Edward Smith

The Political Science Endowment Award  honors a graduating senior whose career at Fordham has been marked by both high intellectual achievement and a demonstrated understanding of the ideals of Jesuit education.
2008 Award Winner: Kristen Woodford

PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
The James C. Higgins Award is given each year to the graduating psychology major who, in the judgment of the members of the department, has achieved significant distinction in the field of psychology. The award is funded by an endowment set up by Dr. Higgins' family, colleagues, and former students to celebrate the memory of one of the department's pioneer members.
2008 Award Winner: Caitlin Ahern

SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT
The Rev. Joseph P. Fitzpatrick, S.J., Memorial Award. Named to honor the memory of the Rev. Joseph P. Fitzpatrick, S.J., a leading scholar in the field of Hispanic studies, the award is given each year to the senior sociology major who writes the best essay on a contemporary social issue.
2008 Award Winner: Lauren Guidice

The Rev. J. Franklin Ewing, S.J., Memorial Award is bestowed annually on the senior anthropology major who writes the best essay dealing with issues of culture, belief or behavior, past or present.
2008 Award Winner: Marie McDermott

THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT
The Jouin Award. Named in honor of the Rev. Louis Jouin, S.J., a Renaissance man and an early member of the Jesuit faculty of Saint John's College, Fordham, who served the College and its students for nearly half a century (1851-1899). The Jouin Award is given each year to the graduating senior who hasshown outstanding achievement in the study of theology.
2008 Award Winner: Daniel Cosacchi

URBAN STUDIES
The Anne Devenney Memorial Award in Urban Studies is presented to the graduating senior who best combines scholarship in Urban Studies with community service and community involvement. The award is named after Anne Devenney, a pioneering leader of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition.
2008 Award Winner: Joseph Blankenship

VISUAL ARTS
The James Storey Memorial Awared is granted to a graduating senior for outstanding accomplishment in visual arts.
2008 Award Winner: Sarah Cascone

WFUV (Fordham's Radio Station)
The Rev. Laurence J. McGinley, S.J., Memorial Award. Named to honor the memory of the late Rev. Laurence J. McGinley, S.J., the twenty-sixth president of the University and the "architect" of Fordham's Lincoln Center campus, the award is given each year to the senior who has, in the judgment of the administrative staff of WFUV, given the most outstanding service to Fordham University radio.
2008 Award Winner: Benham Jones

WOMEN'S STUDIES PROGRAM
The Women's Studies Essay Award honors the graduating senior who has written the best essay in the field of women's studies.
2008 Award Winner: Sarah Block

Return to the top