A total of 12 student-athletes received a total of 16 awards on Prize Day. Eleven sports earned honors, with Women’s track and field earning three, more than any other sports. Women’s Hockey, Golf, Soccer, and Softball each earned two awards.
Women’s Track and Field’s Gabby Baker was awarded both the Alan Lake Chidsey Citizenship Award (for a senior with distinctive contributions to government in student affairs) and the UNITAS Diversity Leadership Award (for significant contributions to fostering diversity on campus). Lauren Armstrong earned one of the two GE Energy Steinmetz Awards (for the mechanical engineering senior with the best senior project).
Women’s Hockey’s Maren Friday earned the other GE Energy Steinmetz Award, as well as the Warner King Prize (for the engineering senior who contributed the most to Union’s traditions and ideals).
Softball’s Tatum Perkins earned the Charles M. Tidmarch Prize (for the political science major with the best thesis) and the Albert C. Ingram Prize (for the social sciences student with the most outstanding scholarly work).
Women’s Soccer’s (and the Opinions Editor of Concordiensis) Gillian Paseka earned the Anthony C LaVecchia Memorial Award for being the student with the keenest interest in journalism, especially political journalism. Grace Caneperi earned the Ashraf M. Ghaly Geo Research Prize for having the best research student and original results in any geo-related field.
Women’s Golf’s Liz Bentsianov earned both the Lewis Henry Morgan Prize (for being the anthropology major with the best thesis) and the Dr. Reuben Sorkin Award for Proficiency and Premedical Studies (for the senior demonstrating proficiency in undergrad studies leading to a medical degree).
The Joel A. Halpen Prize (for the student with the most commitment to service in the local community) went to Jonathan Anderson, who is on the football team. The Joel D. Ticknor Prize (for the senior demonstrating capacity for long-term thinking and plans to use their career to solve the world’s problems) was given to Men’s Swimming & Diving’s James Javier Jr.
Nate Bott, on the Men’s Soccer team, earned the GE Edison Mechanical Engineering Prize (for the mechanical engineering sophomore that has demonstrated exceptional leadership). The Lee, Williams, Dr. Norman ‘43, and Dr. George Wrubel ‘53 Memorial Prize (for the senior preparing for dentistry or medicine based on achievement and character) went to Paige Tromblee, a member of the Women’s Tennis team.
Finally, the Thomas J. Judson Memorial Book Prize (for the student showing academic excellence and sincere interest in modern languages) was given to Men’s Lacrosse’s Kyle Goodwin.
These awards not only highlight the impressive academic, athletic, and civic achievements of Union’s student-athletes, but also show the broad impact they have across fields, from engineering and political science to anthropology and medicine. With honors spanning eleven sports, this year’s recipients reflect the spirit of excellence, leadership, and service that defines Union. Prize Day was a reminder that student-athletes are just as committed in the classroom and around campus as they are in competition. Their achievements speak to their strong dedication to learning, teamwork, and making a difference. As another academic year comes to a close, these students leave a lasting mark on Union, setting a high bar for those who come next.
