As the spring 2023 semester comes to a close, Trinity College recognized students for outstanding achievements in academics, community service, and leadership.
The 72nd Honors Day included the presentation of dozens of student awards by faculty and staff representing academic departments and college offices. At an afternoon ceremony in the Chapel, President Joanne Berger-Sweeney and Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sonia Cardenas congratulated everyone who received recognition.
Among the prizes announced at Honors Day was the Trustee Award for Student Excellence. This award is presented annually to full-time seniors who have compiled an outstanding academic record and whose achievements in one or more other areas of activity, such as athletics, campus or community service, or leadership of student organizations, exemplify the high standards of excellence to which Trinity College expects all of its students to aspire. The recipients are chosen by the Board of Trustees in the spring. Berger-Sweeney presented the 2023 Trustee Awards for Student Excellence to Deion Darnell Kelly ’23 and Zoe Camille Sylvester-Chin ’23.
Trinity began Honors Day in the spring of 1950, introducing an occasion when all Trinity prizes and awards—with the exception of those given out at Commencement—could be celebrated in the presence of the entire College community.
To view the full Honors Day program, including a list of the student award recipients and descriptions of the prizes.
A video recording of the entire event is available here.
A gallery of all photos from the event is available here.
The Ceremony
The Ceremony
Christopher Houlihan ’09, John Rose College Organist-and-Directorship Distinguished Chair of Chapel Music and Artist-in-Residence, performed the organ prelude prior to the processional.
As the processional began and President Joanne Berger-Sweeney entered, the Chapel Singers performed the alma mater "’Neath the Elms."
John L. Selders, assistant dean of students, presented The Class of 1922 Award to Thursday Kellis Williams ’23. Established in 1974 by vote of the class, the award is granted annually to a graduating senior who has done outstanding work in a particular academic field.
Jack A. Dougherty, professor of educational studies, presented The Jonathan Levin Prize in Education to Emma Elizabeth McGraw ’23. The prize was established by a member of the Trinity College Class of 1960 who chooses to be anonymous, is presented annually to a junior or senior who plans to pursue a career teaching in an area with a high proportion of disadvantaged youth. The prize is given in memory of Jonathan Levin ’88, who, as a teacher at William H. Taft High School in the Bronx, New York, dedicated his life to improving the lives of young people. Recipients must possess a superior academic record, intend to pursue a teaching career, and demonstrate a commitment to help young people through practice teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or equivalent activity.
The Connecticut Commandery Military Order of Foreign Wars Book Award is presented to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities. This year, Joanne Berger-Sweeney, president and Trinity College professor of neuroscience, gave it to Jason Kenneth Farrell Jr. ’23.
Dang Do, assistant professor of political science, presented Kendra Keelan '23, with The Ferguson Thesis Prize, established by the Political Science Department in 2019, and awarded annually to a graduating senior for the best thesis in political science. A second recipient, Daniel Andres Santos Ramirez ’23, is not pictured.
Adrienne Fulco, associate professor of legal and policy studies presented The Public Policy and Law Book Prize to Connor John Recck ’23. Established by the Public Policy and Law Program in 2004, the prize is awarded annually to the student who writes the best paper in the area of public policy and law as judged by the program faculty. Recck's paper covered "Recessionary Woes: Examining Economic Policies and their Impact on Student Loan Debt and Housing Stability in the United States.”
Jenny Wu, visiting assistant professor of fine arts, awarded to Christopher Michael Nelson Cooper ’23, the The Friends of Art Awards for Studio Arts, which recognizes exceptional achievement in painting, graphics, sculpture, or photography. Not pictured recipients include Mariyam Azka Hassan ’23 and Qiyang Liang ’24.
Ewa Syta, assistant professor of computer science presented The Bronzell Dinkins Senior Service Award to Addison Cox ’23. The prize was established in honor of Professor Bronzell Dinkins, whose contributions as a laboratory instructor played an invaluable role in the establishment and development of the Computer Science Department. The award recognizes a senior computer science or interdisciplinary computing major who has demonstrated outstanding service to the department. The recipient is chosen by a vote of the Computer Science Department faculty.
Glenn W. Falk, professor of the practice in public policy and law, (center) and Adrienne Fulco, associate professor of legal and policy studies (left) presentedThe Samuel and Clara Hendel Memorial Book Prize to two undergraduatea who are judged to have written the best papers on a topic involving issues of civil liberties or social justice. Natalie Maria Caffrey ’23, wrote “Abortion in America After Roe: An Examination of the Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Women’s Reproductive Health Access.” Erin Geraldine DeMarco ’23, wrote “Tribal Sovereignty and Native American Women’s Rights in the Wake of Castro-Huerta."
Joe Barber, director of community service and civic engagement (left) presented The Alexander A. Goldfarb Award for Community Service, awarded jointly by the City of Hartford and Trinity College to Anna G. Grant-Bolton ’25, Lily E. McGuirk ’24, and Carder Alexi Miller ’24. The award recognizes the Trinity students who, through community service, have done the most during this current year to benefit the City of Hartford and its citizens.
The Trinity College Alumni Association Senior Achievement Awards were presented by Alexandra Muchura-Mensah’ 04, director of alumni relations (second from left) to Peter Thomas Doyle ’23, Jason Kenneth Farrell Jr. ’23, Zoe Camille Sylvester-Chin ’23, and Stanley Mathew Cardona Toledo ’23.
Joanne Berger-Sweeney, president and Trinity professor of neuroscience, presented The Elizabeth Elting Foundation Venture Prize for Women’s Leadership, to Mackenzie Anne Georgescu ’23 and Kellie Marie Sablone ’23. Established in 2022, the award is granted to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, personal growth, and commitment to the Venture program and community while at Trinity.
Zoe Camille Sylvester-Chin ’23 (left) and Deion Darnell Kelly ’23 (right) received The Trustee Award for Student Excellence, presented annually to full-time seniors who compiled outstanding academic records and whose achievements in one or more other areas of activity, such as athletics, campus or community service, or leadership of student organizations, exemplify the high standards of excellence to which Trinity College expects all of its students to aspire. The recipients are chosen by the Board of Trustees in the spring.
