2009 Student Art Awards presented in campus celebrations

The following students received awards for their accomplishments in the arts at MIT at the Institute Awards Convocation held on Tuesday, May 5.

Michael R. Miller, a senior from West Roxbury, MA, who is earning a degree in electrical engineering and computer science, received the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts, presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence or the highest standards of proficiency in music, theater, painting, sculpture, design, architecture or film. The prize is made from a fund established by Louis Sudler, a performer in the arts and an arts patron from Chicago. Miller won the award for his proficiency in music.

Three Laya and Jerome B. Wiesner Awards, presented to students (graduate or undergraduate), organizations and/or living groups for achievement in the creative and performing arts were bestowed. Simone Ovsey, a senior studying music and theater arts from Northridge, CA was recognized for her percussion abilities; Samuel Kronick, a junior in architecture from Chaska, MN for his visual arts; and the MIT Salsa Club.

MUSIC AND THEATER ARTS AWARDS

In a separate ceremony held on Thursday, May 14, students who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural life of MIT were recognized by the Music and Theater Arts Section.

Gregory Tucker Memorial Prizes in recognition of exceptional ability in performance and overall contribution to the Music and Theater Arts Section went to Yi-Hsin Lin, a senior in mathematics from New York, NY and to Benjamin Park, a junior in physics from Jamaica Plain, MA.

Kaitlyn Becker, a senior in mechanical engineering from Narberth, PA; Matthew Putnam, a senior majoring in electrical engineering and computer science from Round Rock, TX; and Brandon Reese, a senior in aeronautics and astronautics from Alpharetta, GA received Richard and Jody Nordlof Awards in recognition of distinguished service and musical contribution to the MIT Wind Ensemble.

Ragnar and Margaret Naess Certificates in recognition of exceptional talent and commitment to performance at MIT were awarded in several categories. Yelena Bagdasarova, a junior in physics from Twin Falls, ID; Elisabeth Hon Hunt, a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science from Fort Myers, FL; and Paulina Sliwa, a graduate student in linguistics and philosophy from Hahnstaetten, Germany were recognized as Exceptional Vocal Students.

Nathan Haouzi, a junior in mathematics from Hummelstown, PA; Eun-Suk Lee, a graduate student in management from Seoul, Korea; Khoa L. Nguyen, a junior studying mathematics from Houston, TX; Sarah Rumbley, a freshman from Lafayette, CO; and Xiao Xiao, a senior in electrical engineering and computer science from Metarie, LA were honored as Exceptional Pianists.

Simone Ovsey, a senior studying music and theater arts from Northridge, CA and Christopher Hainley, a graduate student in aeronautics and astronautics from Springfield, OR were recognized as Exceptional Percussionists.

Dylan Sherry, a freshman from Cape Elizabeth, ME and Benjamin Steinhorn, a freshman from Chicago, IL were honored as Exceptional Wind Players.

Tanya Goldhaber, a junior in mechanical engineering from Boulder, CO and Sherman Jia, a graduate student in Health Sciences and Technology from Roslyn Heights, NY were recognized as Exceptional String Players.

Students who received Emerson Music Fellowships for 2008-09 were: Thomas Carr, a senior in music and theater arts from Fredericksburg, VA, for piano; Alvin Chen, a junior studying biological engineering from Irvine, CA, for piano; Bina Choi, a senior in chemical engineering from Houston, TX, for cello; Elisabeth Hon Hunt, a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science from Fort Myers, FL, for voice; Nicholas Joliat, a junior in physics from Lexington, MA, for piano; Jennifer Lai, a sophomore from Honolulu, HI studying biological engineering, for piano; and Andrew Wang, a sophomore studying aeronautics and astronautics, from Sugarland, TX, for piano.

THEATER AWARDS

Edward S. Darna Awards, presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in theater arts and made a substantial contribution to the health of theater life on the MIT campus went to Hanna Kuznetsov, a biology major from Lexington, MA and Brian Demers, a mechanical engineering major from West Boylston, MA.

OTHER AWARDS

An I. Austin Kelly III Essay Prize was awarded for best undergraduate essay to Cristen Chinea, a junior from New York, NY, majoring in architecture.

Kelley-Douglas Summer '09 Traveling Fellowships were awarded to Jose Barcena, a junior in materials science and engineering from Bronx, NY, to p articipate in the German Language course at the Freie Universitat of Berlin; Jodie-Marie Fernandes, a senior in electrical engineering and computer science from St James, Trinidad and Tobago, to attend a program for classical musicians at Peppardine University; Brooke Jarrett, a junior from Palatine, IL studying architecture, to build homes with Habitat for Humanity in Peru; Diana Jue, a senior majoring in urban studies and planning/economics from Los Angeles, CA to travel to China to work with China Nest of Hope Foundation's orphanage and vocational school; SeoHyung Kim, a junior in mathematics/literature from Cheong-ju, South Korea, to travel to London to volunteer with and study the literary arts community outreach program "Spread the Word"; Amy Leung, a junior from Brooklyn, NY studying chemical engineering, to travel to China for the China Synergy Programme's Silk Road Tour and reunion conference; Yujing Li, a junior from Bronx, NY majoring in architecture to travel to northern Italy with the Veneto experience program and to explore the architecture of Carlo Scarpa; Christie Lin, a sophomore in nuclear science and engineering from Rockville, MD to travel to Texas to understand the culture of Texas through a culinary investigation; Richard Prevost, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Springfield, VA to to travel with the Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Company dance company in Peru; Sukrit Ranjan, a junior studying physics from Northbrook, IL, to travel to Mozia, Italy to participate in archeological field school dig; Adam Talsma, a junior civil and environmental engineering/urban studies and planning major from Scottville, MI, to explore the experiences of a disaster stricken region of Peru by creating a documentary; Jingwen Tao, a senior in management from Houston, TX, to participate in the Hong Kong University Summer Program "Asia as the Global Future"; Liz Theurer, a junior in mechanical engineering/mathematics from Newberry, FL to research optimizing factories for recycling of electronic waste in the United States and Chile; and James Ira Winder, a junior in architecture from Asheville, NC, to travel to northern Italy with the Veneto experience program; explore the architecture of Carlo Scarpa.