Six Union College student-athletes earned recognition for their academic success on Prize Day. 

Kolby McKenzie ‘20, a member of the Women’s Basketball team, earned the Arnold I. Bittleman Memorial Prize, an award given to a student who had studied drawing in the Visual Arts Department whose work is outstanding. McKenzie spent two years playing for the basketball team and appeared in 13 games over two seasons. She then took a student assistant coaching role in the 2018-2019 season. 

Joana Santos ‘20, also a member of the Women’s Basketball team, earned the General Electric Edison Mechanical Engineering Leadership Prize and the Ethel Kirchenbaum Memorial Prize. The General Electric Edison Mechanical Engineering Leadership Prize is awarded to a senior majoring in mechanical engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. While the Ethel Kirchenbaum Memorial Prize is awarded to a senior who possesses the best potential for furthering the ideals of the engineering profession. At Union, Santos has an extensive list of academic achievements. Santos is a three-year member of the Dean’s List, Vice President of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and was inducted into the Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society and the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society during her junior year. In addition, she was also named the Liberty League All-Academic Team all three years and named the Junior Scholar-Athlete of Year during the 2018 -2019 academic year. 

Leah Pezanowski ‘21, a member of the Women’s Lacrosse team, earned the David S. Kaplan ‘82 Memorial Prize, a prize given to a student applying for a term abroad with preference to a major in political science. Pezanowski did not see any action during the 2018 season but started in 13 of her 14 appearances in the 2019 season. She finished the season with 17 groundballs and eight caused turnovers. 

Jaclyn Gehring ‘20, a member of the Women’s Swimming & Diving Team, was awarded the Edward S.C. Smith Geology Prize. This prize is awarded to a senior majoring in geology who demonstrates high professional potential. Gehring excelled in the classroom. She was named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team all three years and a three-year member of the Dean’s List. Gehring is also in the Sigma Xi Research Society and was the Wold Scholar for the Geology department for the past two years. In the pool, Gehring served as one of six co-captains during the 2019-2020 season. At the 2019 Liberty League Conference Championships, she took 22nd place in the 100Y breaststroke. After graduation, she will be attending Northeastern to pursue a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering. 

Jojo Sasso ‘21, also a member of the Women’s Swimming & Diving Team, was awarded the Eugene I. Yudis ‘55 Prize, a prize given to a student who has produced the best piece of prose fiction. At the 2018 Liberty League Championship, Sasso took 16th in the 400Y I.M, 17th in the 200Y Fly, and 24th in the 500Y Free. At the 2020 Liberty League Championship she finished in 20th in the 200Y Fly. She is also a member of the Union College Dean’s List. 

Tal Pezzuco ‘20, a member of the Women’s Tennis team, was awarded the Ingvar V. Ingvarrson Prize. This prize is named to a senior in electrical engineer chosen for high scholarship. Pezzuco is an outstanding athlete on the courts. Her accolades include All-Liberty League Singles First Team (2016-17), All-Liberty League Singles Second Team in (2017-18, 2018-19), All-Liberty League Doubles First Team (2018-19), All-Liberty League Doubles Honorable Mention (2016-17, 2017-18), Liberty League Singles Performer of the Week (3/6/17. 9/10/18), Liberty League Doubles Team of the Week (9/19/16, 9/18/17). She was also named ITA Scholar-Athlete (2018-19) and named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team in 2020.