Recipients of these prizes have demonstrated exceptional leadership combined with excellence in academic achievement.

The Alpha Omicron Pi Prize Scholarship honors students who best represent the combination of very high scholarship and significant participation in social service work.

Jesse Ryan (A21), an Anthropology and American Studies major, is a leader inside and outside of the classroom. Ryan excels in scholarship, engaged in several independent research pursuits, and served as a teaching assistant for two courses. Ryan also played important roles in organizing campaigns that have greatly improved equity and justice on campus. Jesse is lauded by one professor as one of the most “talented scholar-activists that I have encountered on this campus, or on any campus.”

The Xi Delta Prize is awarded to a junior with the greatest promise of future achievement. 

Shannon Cloherty (A22) has demonstrated a resounding commitment to supporting her peers, community, and society as a whole. As a Treasurer for the Leonard Carmichael Society, Shannon works with fellow executive board members to ensure the success of over 25 community service sub-groups. As a Senior Health Educator in the Peer Health Exchange, she organizes workshops on physical, mental, emotional, social, and sexual health for local high school students. Across all her efforts, Shannon is a leader.

The Cowdery Memorial Scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement and personal qualities of leadership and high principle.

A force for good on and off-campus, Sharif Hamidi (A21) aspires to a career of service. Treasurer of the TCU Senate, he has been a champion for issues related to student health and academic policies. The summer internships he has held, plus his role as an elected State Department Campus Coordinator, have helped him hone his advocacy skills. Highly motivated and self-directed, Sharif’s strong work ethic positions him an exemplary leader. 

An academic superstar, Sophia Lloyd (E21) has demonstrated a natural propensity for leadership both in and out of the classroom. Sophia has embraced leadership roles on the Tufts Women’s Soccer team, in her sorority, and in her senior capstone project. Alongside her extracurricular contributions, Sophia has maintained a dedication to academic achievement in Tufts’s Biomedical Engineering Program, with her bright, engaged, and motivated character pushing her to succeed.

Christian Senecal (A22) embodies the Tufts spirit of leadership and service, achieving academically while challenging himself intellectually in and outside the classroom. Christian has performed advanced research in public health and community medicine, exploring adolescent substance abuse, liver cancer, and cirrhosis. Additionally, Christian has worked for organizations such as SHARE, the Tufts University Social Collective, and the Public Health Committee, working to address reproductive health, vaccine promotion, BIPOC support, and healthcare access. 

Josh Clarkson (A21) is a Quantitative Economics major with marked depth of understanding, intellectual curiosity, and strong character. His professors state that he is among the best students they have encountered and note his willingness to assist classmates who struggled last spring when classes abruptly went online. He leads the Tufts Literacy Corps tutoring group and, as a sophomore Community Development Assistant, he guided his student residents through a very difficult time.

Sarah Wiener (A21) is a dedicated, thoughtful, self-motivated student, whose passionate commitment to justice and equity has pushed her to adopt multiple leadership roles. As President of the Tufts Community Union Senate, Sarah successfully advocated for the extension of Tufts’s COVID-19 emergency grading policies. Beyond the TCU, Sarah has worked as a teaching assistant with the TUPIT program, for the Sexual Misconduct Prevention Steering Committee, and as a member of the Social Norming Committee.

Embodying academic achievement, leadership, and high principle, Mike Wilkinson (A21) has demonstrated a dedication to sustainability and environmental protection. Excelling as a double major in International Relations and Environmental Studies, Mike is described by multiple professors as a passionate learner and adept writer. He has performed environmental research and advocacy, engaging with researchers, activists, NGOs, farmers, entrepreneurs, and high-level policymakers.

The Phyllis J. Karno Dean’s Award for Leadership and Academic Excellence is awarded to sophomores who have shown great promise in their academics and demonstrated leadership on or off campus. Created in loving memory of Phyllis Karno, Jackson ’79. 

Sophia Beatriz Salomao Costa (A23) shows great potential as a sociological researcher and as a leader. Devoted to equity and justice, Sophia has served as a key member of a Participatory Action Research project on the impact of the pandemic on slum residents in Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, Sophia hosts a multi-media podcast that sheds light on scientific denialism in Brazil, writes for the Tufts Daily, and contributes to Tufts for a Racially Equitable Endowment.

 Layla F. Sastry (A23) is committed to social justice and the environment, working to empower individuals and communities adversely affected by environmental degradation. Layla has demonstrated solid leadership as Director of Community Relations for the student club Women’s Higher Education Now and as a teacher at her local synagogue. Additionally, Layla has worked for the United States Geological Survey, creating educational videos and a user-friendly website and helping scientists track coastal erosion in U.S. coastal national parks.

Deepti Srinivasan (E23) has excelled in Biomedical Engineering while demonstrating a deep commitment to cancer research. Deepti has been researching how electrical properties regulate tumor cell invasion, resulting in co-authoring a publication with Professor Madeleine Oudin. Deepti’s commitment to helping others extends beyond the lab, and she has taken on leadership roles within the Tufts chapter of Strong Women Strong Girls and in the Cancer Outreach Club. She also works as a Martial Arts Therapist at Kids Kicking Cancer.