Congratulations to the following Kalamazoo College students who received awards during the 2025 Senior Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 14, at Stetson Chapel. The awards include all academic divisions, prestigious scholarships and special non-departmental awards. 

FINE ARTS DIVISION 

Art and Art History

Lilia Chen Award in Art 

• Mabel Rose Bowdle 

• Josetta H. Checkett 

• Natalie Martinez 

• Ping Mae Smith 

• Jackson Willits 

George Eaton Errington Prize 

• Elena Pulliam 

Michael Waskowsky Prize 

• Stephanie Martinez 

Music

Lillian Pringle Baldauf Prize in Music  

• Cassidy Martini-Zeller 

• Isabella Pellegrom  

Music Department Certificate of Distinction  

• Laura DeVilbiss 

• Olivia Nicole DiGiulio 

• Sierra Hieshetter 

• Joseph R. Horsfield 

• Cole Koryto 

• Liam McElroy 

• Sophia Renee Merchant  

• Tyrus Parnell, Jr. 

• Elena Pulliam 

• Noah Pyle 

• Michel Romero 

• Audrey Paige Schulz 

• Alexa Wonacott 

Fan E. Sherwood Memorial Prize 

• Garrick Hohm 

Theatre Arts

Ruth Scott Chenery Award 

• Megan J. Herbst 

• Max Joos 

Irmgard Kowatzki Theatre Award 

• Addison Peter 

• May Moe Tun 

MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES 

Chinese 

Chinese Outstanding Achievement Award 

• Benjamin Buyck 

• Kateryna Koublitsky 

• Nancy Murillo 

Classical Studies

Provost’s Prize in Classics 

• Beatrice Jane Hawkins 

French and Francophone Studies

Alliance Francaise Prize in French 

• McKenna Lee Wasmer 

German Studies

Joe Fugate Senior German Award 

• Alex Nam 

• Meredith Steward 

Japanese

Japanese National Honor Society, College Chapter 

• Noah Chukwuma 

• Rebecca Elias 

• Madalyn Farrey 

• Tyler Houle 

• Kiana Hime Kanegawa 

• Raven Montagna 

• Colby Skinner 

Spanish Language and Literatures

The Senior Spanish Award 

• Sara Reathaford 

• Maria Salinas 

HUMANITIES DIVISION 

American Studies

David Strauss Prize in American Studies 

• Sierra Hieshetter 

• Sadye Rasmussen 

Critical Ethnic Studies

Critical Ethnic Studies Community Praxis Award 

• Janet Fernandez 

Cassandra Solis ’16 Prize in Critical Ethnic Studies 

• Alisha Clark 

English

Gail Griffin Prize 

• Ella Heystek 

Bruce E. Mills Award 

• Claire Farhi 

Elwood H. and Elizabeth H. Schneider Prize in English 

• Emerson Wesselhoff 

Mary Clifford Stetson Prize 

• Sierra Hieshetter 

• Eleanor Stevenson 

Dwight (1929) and Leola Stocker Prize 

• Caroline Elizabeth Francis 

• Greta Rose Salamun 

• Claire Taylor 

• Carson Williams 

Charles Lewis Williams Jr. Award 

• Abigail Esmeralda Gutierrez 

James Bird Balch Prize in American History 

• Sierra Hieshetter 

History

History Department Award 

• Natalie Maki 

Philosophy

Hodge Prize in Philosophy 

• Madeleine Lawson 

Department of Philosophy Prize 

• Liam Diaz 

• Madeleine Lawson 

Religion

Marion H. Dunsmore (1920) Memorial Prize in Religion 

• Megan Hybels 

NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION 

Biology

H. Lewis Batts Prize 

• Noah Pyle 

• Leslie Michelle Santos 

The Biology in Liberal Arts Prize 

• Westin Leigh Grinwis 

• Emerson Wesselhoff 

Frances Diebold Scholar Award 

• Jordan Cook 

• Vivian Schmidt 

William E. Praeger (1922) Prize in Biology 

• Noah Pyle 

• Vivian Schmidt 

Chemistry and Biochemistry Annual Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry 

• Lesly Guadalupe Mares Castro 

Annual Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology 

• Nguyen Nguyen 

Annual Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry 

• Maxwell Clay Rhames 

Annual Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry 

• Ashhad Abdullah 

• Lucy Cripe 

Annual Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry 

• Margaret Lekan 

Jeff Bartz Community in Chemistry Award 

• Grace Leahey 

Outstanding Chemistry Student from Kalamazoo College 

• Maxwell Clay Rhames 

Kurt Kaufman Fellow 

• Ashhad Abdullah 

• Anna Buck 

• Lucy Cripe 

• Justin Essing 

• Margaret Lekan 

• Maxwell Clay Rhames 

Lemuel F. Smith Award 

• Anna Buck 

Computer Science

Provost’s Prize in Computer Science 

• Lelo Khaba 

• Cole Koryto 

• Chau Ta 

Mathematics

Clarke Benedict Williams Prize 

• Joseph R. Horsfield 

• Chau Ta 

• Tristan Uphoff 

Physics

John Wesley Hornbeck Prize 

• Alexander Kish 

• Riley Weber 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIVISION

George Acker Award 

• Jackson Mitchell 

Mary Long Burch ’61 Award 

• Anna Buck 

C.W. “Opie’’ Davis (1928) Award 

• Lukas Broadsword 

Hornet Athletic Association Award 

• Adnan Alousi 

Knoechel Family Award 

• Erik Danielson 

• Ava Jean Williams 

Tish Loveless Award 

• Paige Anderson 

Lauren Rosenthal ’13 Memorial Prize 

• Annmarie Elizabeth Lawrence 

Catherine A. Smith ’82 Prize in Women’s Athletics 

• Ivy Walker 

SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION 

Anthropology and Sociology

The Raymond L. Hightower Award 

• Clarke McKenzie Austin 

Economics and Business

William G. Howard (1867) Memorial Prize in Economics and Business 

• Cole Koryto 

Provost’s Prize in Economics 

• Sage Margarett Lewis 

• Riley Weber 

C. Wallace Lawrence Prize in Business 

• Dilynn Everitt 

Robert and Karen Rhoa Prize in Business 

• Sydney Hagaman 

• Gavin Houtkooper 

• Sheldon Riley 

• Levi Thomas 

• Alexa Wonacott 

Political Science

E. Bruce Baxter ’64 Memorial Award 

• Ethan DeNeen 

• Natalie Maki 

William G. Howard (1867) Memorial Prize in Political Science 

• Maya Hester 

• Amy McNutt 

Eugene P. Stermer ’50 Award in Public Administration 

• Joseph Shumunov 

Psychology

Marshall Hallock Brenner ’55 Prize 

• Malin Nordmoe  

Xarifa Greenquist Memorial Psychology Department Award 

• Lille Dekker 

• Laura DeVilbiss 

• Annmarie Elizabeth Lawrence 

• Charlotte Ruiter 

• Joseph Stein 

Richard D. Klein ’53 Senior Award in Psychology 

• Beatrice Jane Hawkins 

• Si Yun Ahnna Kimball 

Richard D. Klein ’53 Senior Impact Award in Psychology 

• Adaora Alexandra Emenyonu 

• Audrey Paige Schulz 

Donald W. VanLiere Prize Psychology in Coursework 

• Laura DeVilbiss 

• Vivian Kim 

• Madeline Rae Lovins 

• Charlotte Ruiter 

• Vivian Schmidt 

Donald W. VanLiere Prize Psychology in Research 

• Jaden Kowalski 

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Catherine A. Smith ’82 Prize in Human Rights 

• Stephanie Martinez 

Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Prize in Women’s Studies 

• Elaine Pollard 

COLLEGE AWARDS 

Alpha Lambda Delta Maria Leonard Senior Book Award 

• Sierra Hieshetter 

• Vivian Kim 

• Alexander Kish 

• Cole Koryto 

• Noah Pyle 

• Vivian Schmidt 

Gordon Beaumont Memorial Award 

• Michel Romero 

Henry ’36 and Inez Brown Award 

• Lucy Cripe 

• Tyler Omness 

• Eden Schnurstein 

Virginia Hinkelman Memorial Award 

• Clarke McKenzie Austin 

• Elijah Mobley 

Senior Leadership Recognition Award 

• Tyler Houle 

• Mart Klenke 

• Grace Leahey 

• Gionna Magdaleno 

• Stephanie Martinez 

• Alex Nam 

• Maxwell Clay Rhames 

• Leslie Michelle Santos 

• Levi Thomas 

• Emerson Wesselhoff 

Maynard Owen Williams (1910) Memorial Award 

• Eamon Emrick Bronson 

• Alexia Dowell 

• Janet Fernandez 

• Ethan Thomas Galler 

• Lillian Grelak 

• Lelo Khaba 

• Madeleine Lawson 

• Natalie Grace Pineda 

• Melissa Preston 

• Alejandro Quesada 

• Emerson Wesselhoff 

FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARS 

Austria U.S. Teaching Assistantship 

• Erik Danielson 

• Leo McGreevy 

• Alex Nam 

Beeler Senior Projects Abroad Fellows 

• Mabel Rose Bowdle 

• Janet Fernandez 

• Aiden Habboub 

• Gus Horvath 

• Daniel Isacksen 

• Silvia Gaete Lagos 

• Annmarie Elizabeth Lawrence 

• Gionna Magdaleno 

• Natalie Martinez 

• Akinyi Wamuyu Okero 

• Natalie Grace Pineda 

• Elaine Pollard 

• Evan Pollens-Voigt 

• Joseph Shumunov 

• Elena Stolberg 

H.P. and Genevieve Connable Scholarship 

• Grace Leahey 

French Government Teaching Assistantships 

• Madeline Fleur Hollander 

• McKenna Lee Wasmer 

Fulbright/Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Ph.D. Award 

• Joseph R. Horsfield 

Fred and Sarah Greer Endowed Scholarship/Lorinda Kay Sanford Memorial 

• Clarke McKenzie Austin 

• Adaora Alexandra Emenyonu 

• Annmarie Elizabeth Lawrence 

• Gionna Magdaleno 

• Jaden Isabella Milton 

• Akinyi Wamuyu Okero 

• Lucien Taylor 

Caroline Ham ’48 Scholar 

• Amy McNutt 

F. W. and Elsie L. Heyl Scholars 

• Ava Rose Apolo 

• Anna Buck 

• Elizabeth Dalyn Grooten 

• Alexander Kish 

• Cole Koryto 

• Margaret Lekan 

• Emerson Wesselhoff 

• Laurel Wolfe 

Moses Kimball Scholar 

• Michel Romero 

LaPlante Civic Engagement Scholars 

• Clarke McKenzie Austin 

• Lucy Cripe 

• Adaora Alexandra Emenyonu 

• Isabel Katherine Martin 

• Stephanie Martinez 

• Elijah Mobley 

• Audrey Paige Schulz 

Jerry Sherbin Fellowship 

• Akinyi Wamuyu Okero 

Spanish Government Teaching Assistantship Award 

• Fuzail Ahmed 

• Maya Hester 

• Sierra Hieshetter 

• Alexa Wonacott 

Slava-Cica and Spasa Voynovich Scholar 

• Alex Nam 

Vibbert Civic Engagement Scholars 

• Claire Farhi 

HONORS IN THE MAJOR DEPARTMENT 

Anthropology and Sociology 

• Ariadne June Markou 

Art and Art History 

• Josetta H. Checkett 

• Ping Mae Smith 

Biology 

• Mairin Boshoven 

• Emma Frederikson 

• Lucas Premier 

• Noah Pyle 

• Vivian Schmidt 

• Meredith Steward 

Biochemistry 

• Nguyen Nguyen  

Business 

• Dilynn Everitt 

• Gavin Houtkooper 

• Jacob Lynett 

• Sheldon Riley 

• Levi Thomas 

Chemistry 

• Anna Buck 

• Lucy Cripe 

• Justin Essing 

• Amalia Kaerezi 

• Margaret Lekan 

• Maxwell Clay Rhames 

Computer Science 

• Yongwan Cho 

• Garrick Hohm 

• Lelo Khaba 

• Alexander Kish 

• Cole Koryto 

• Chau Ta 

Economics 

• Ethan DeNeen 

• Sage Margarett Lewis 

• Kiersten Sjogren 

• Meganne Skoug 

Quantitative Economics 

• Ethan Thomas Galler 

• Cole Koryto 

• Riley Weber 

English 

• Claire Farhi 

• Caroline Elizabeth Francis 

• Ella Heystek 

• Eleanor Stevenson 

• Claire Taylor 

• Carson Williams 

International Area Studies 

• Alex Nam 

• Joseph Shumunov 

Mathematics 

• Adelaide Bowen  

• Chau Ta 

• Tristan Uphoff 

Music 

• Simon Parker Doyle 

• Cassidy Martini-Zeller 

• Isabella Pellegrom 

Physics 

• Alexander Kish 

• Riley Weber 

Political Science 

• Natalie Maki 

• Joseph Shumunov 

Psychology 

• Vivian Kim 

• Kiersten Sjogren 

Religion 

• Adelaide Bowen  

• Elaine Pollard 

Spanish Language and Literature 

• Paige Anderson 

• Isabella Caza 

• Laura DeVilbiss 

• Valeria Garcia 

• Maya Hester 

• Jesús Martínez 

• Sara Reathaford 

• Meganne Skoug 

• Lucinda Wallis 

• Alexa Wonacott 

Theatre Arts 

• Megan J. Herbst 

• Addison Peter 

MEMBERS OF PHI BETA KAPPA 

• Mairin Boshoven 

• Anna Buck 

• Yongwan Cho 

• Erik Danielson 

• Laura DeVilbiss 

• Dilynn Everitt 

• Madalyn Farrey 

• Emma Frederiksen 

• Megan J. Herbst 

• Joseph R. Horsfield 

• Gavin Houtkooper 

• Vivian Kim 

• Alexander Kish 

• Cole Koryto 

• Ava Loncharte 

• Madeline Rae Lovins 

• Ariadne June Markou 

• Alex Nam 

• Lucas Priemer 

• Noah Pyle 

• Maxwell Clay Rhames 

• Vivian Schmidt 

• Chau Ta 

• Tristan Uphoff 

• Hannah VanderLugt 

• Emerson Wesselhoff 

Kalamazoo College’s Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa welcomed 26 new members on June 11, 2025, recognizing their exceptional scholastic achievements across a wide range of disciplines. 

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, boasting 17 U.S. presidents, 42 U.S. Supreme Court justices, and more than 150 Nobel laureates among their ranks. Beyond recognition, Phi Beta Kappa offers members access to a diverse network of high achievers, opportunities for professional development, and resources for lifelong learning. The society’s mission is “to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, to recognize academic excellence, and to foster freedom of thought and expression.” The Delta of Michigan chapter was founded in 1958. 

Acceptance into Phi Beta Kappa is considered one of the highest academic honors a student can receive. The society is known for its rigorous selection process that evaluates students’ achievements across the arts, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. Phi Beta Kappa typically extends invitations to students in the top 10% of their class. 

As these talented seniors embark on the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys, their Phi Beta Kappa membership will serve as a symbol of their exceptional accomplishments and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge.  

Please join us in congratulating the following students listed by name, hometown and courses of study:  

• Mairin Boshoven, of Portage, Michigan; biology and French major 
• Anna Buck, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; chemistry major, applied mathematics and biochemistry minor
• Yongwan Cho, of South Korea; computer science and math major 
• Erik Tyler Danielson, of Saint Leonard, Maryland; German and computer science major, applied mathematics minor 
• Laura DeVilbiss, of Byron, Minnesota; psychology and Spanish major 
• Dilynn Everitt, of Saint Louis, Michigan; business and psychology major 
• Madalyn Farrey, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; psychology major, Japanese and studio art minor
• Emma Frederiksen, of Chelsea, Michigan; biology major, German minor, environmental studies concentration 
• Megan Herbst, of Troy, Michigan; theatre arts and psychology major 
• Joseph Horsfield, of MacLean, Virginia; biochemistry and mathematics major, community and global health concentration 
• Gavin Houtkooper, of Battle Creek, Michigan; business and computer science major, Spanish minor 
• Vivian Kim, of Wilmette, Illinois; psychology and anthropology / sociology major
• Alexander Kish, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; physics and computer science major, applied mathematics minor 
• Cole Koryto, of Portage, Michigan; computer science and quantitative economics major, mathematics and music minor 
• Ava Loncharte, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; biology major, environmental studies concentration
• Madeline Lovins, of Oxford, Michigan; psychology major, German minor
• Ariadne June Markou, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; anthropology and sociology major, philosophy minor 
• Alex Nam, of Houston, Texas; German, and international and area studies major 
• Lucas Priemer, of Berkley, Michigan; biology major, Spanish minor 
• Noah Pyle, of Ypsilanti, Michigan; biology major, mathematics minor, environmental studies concentration 
• Maxwell Rhames, of Adrian, Michigan; chemistry major 
• Vivian Schmidt, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; biology and psychology major, neuroscience concentration 
• Chau Ta, of Hanoi, Vietnam; computer science and mathematics major 
• Tristan Uphoff, of Roanoke, Virginia; mathematics major, physics and Japanese minor
• Hannah VanderLugt, of Kent City, Michigan; biochemistry major, math minor 
• Emerson Wesselhoff, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; biology major, environmental studies concentration 

With shovels in hand and students at the heart of the vision, Kalamazoo College broke ground Thursday on new residence halls designed to foster connection, community and academic success.   

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday, June 12, for the $55 million residential facilities that will provide modern and sustainable housing for up to 218 juniors and seniors beginning in fall 2027. Progressive Companies is designing the building and Owen-Ames-Kimball is constructing. A portion of the project’s funding comes from a $30 million gift made in 2023 by an anonymous donor. 

President Jorge G. Gonzalez was joined by Board of Trustees Chair Jody Clark ’80, Vice President for Student Development J. Malcolm Smith and student Lily Nestich ’28 in speaking about the College’s commitment to enhancing the campus experience for students. The event was attended by faculty, staff, students, trustees and community members, including Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson and Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess. K’s Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Susan Lindemann, Owen-Ames-Kimball Director of Operations (Kalamazoo) Tom Stanek, and Progressive Companies Principal Tod Stevens participated in the ceremony. 

“As an alumna and a trustee, I know firsthand the importance of residential life to the mission of Kalamazoo College and to the student experience,” said Clark. “I’m very excited to see the College continue to evolve and move its long-term strategy forward.” 

Gonzlez highlighted that strategy, noting that, “With this investment, we’re building more than buildings—we’re creating modern, inclusive spaces that foster student growth, advance our sustainability goals and reflect the thoughtful stewardship put forth in our campus master plan. We deeply appreciate the generosity of the donor who provided the initial gift in support of this project, to the many students, faculty, and staff who provided input to our planning process, and to all of the companies and contractors supporting this endeavor.” 

Student speaker Lily Nestich, a member of KC DREAM, a disability student rights organization, highlighted the excitement surrounding the new halls, emphasizing that they are poised to become “the most accessible residence halls on campus.” Nestich added, “Being at K…has taught me a lot about myself and how I can grow with friends and classmates on a campus that not only allows for it, but fosters it. I’m so excited to see how these dorms allow for more students to feel connected to each other.” 

In his remarks, Smith also reflected on the opportunities these residence halls will offer for intentional community-building. The design provides welcoming spaces available to all students, faculty and staff, including a community kitchen, a marketplace, a terrace with outdoor seating that faces the community, and a hall lounge suitable for presentations and programming.  

“A fuller residential model offers powerful benefits to students—greater access to resources, to peers and mentors, and to the development of a sense of belonging,” said Smith. “This opportunity provides a fresh blueprint for how we integrate student living with curricular and co-curricular life.”