The Biology Department values intellectual excellence by recognizing students for superior academic performance, research accomplishments, and leadership through service through a variety of awards and prizes described below.
Fredricka Stahl Senior Prize in Biology
This is an annual prize awarded to one or more seniors for outstanding academic achievement in the Biology Department over the four years of college. The prize will be awarded each May at the Senior Honors Convocation, which takes place the Friday before Commencement.
2000: Marina Petcherskaia ’00
2001: Katherine Healy ’01
2002: Svetlana Stamenova ’02
2003: Angela Eakley ’03 and Brandon Johnson ’03
2004: Nijee Sharma ’04
2005: Tamara Hibler ’05, Sara Herrera ’05, and Arun Paul ’05
2006: Katrina Brandis ’06
2007: Choe Wormser ’07
2008: Shruti Pore ’08 and Mithaq Vahedi ’08
2009: Ray Choi 09, Stephanne Levin 09, and Nengding Wang ’09
2010: Michael Fiske ’10
2011: Alina Konnikova ’11, Elizabeth Pahomov ’11, and Brittany Stern ’11
2012: Emily Gaulke ’12, Amanda Glasgow ’12, and Robin Graber ’12
2013: Tyler Hauer ’13
2014: Kaya Cuper ’14
2015: Zhiyu Deng ’15 and Zachary Sekulich ’15
2016: Tyler Kaplan ’16 and Rachel Granberg ’16
2017: Lindsey Hartup ’17 and Peyton Schrag ’17
2018: Rosemary Thomas ’18 and Yuliya Zayats ’18
2019: Philip Freund ’19
David D. Towle Award for Excellence in Biological Research
David Towle was an energetic scientist who came to Lake Forest College to see the Department of Biology through a period of faculty retirements and to turn Biology into an actively researching department for professors and students alike. He set an example for the new faculty members he hired through national acclaim for his scholarship. The National Science Foundation continuously funded him, and likewise those that he hired felt compelled to get federal grant funds. David also was involved in the design of a new research wing of the science building. This wing had room to house the research laboratories of the new hires, and in addition had room to place the best marine animal research facility in the area. More importantly, David saw research as “what scientists do,” and undertook a major revision to the Biology curriculum so that students could experience this first hand. He let go of “cookbook” laboratories, and brought labs way ahead of their time, where students designed their own semester long projects. Students learned what it was like to do real science, whether experiments worked or even if they failed.
Even though David Towle has moved forward to the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratories, all appreciate the changes he made to the Biology Department at Lake Forest College. This is an annual prize awarded to one or more seniors for outstanding research accomplishments in the Biology Department community over the four years of college. The prize will be awarded each May at the Senior Honors Convocation, which takes place the Friday before Commencement.
2007: Chelsea Beuter ’07 and Michael White ’07
2008: Andrew Ferrier ’08 and Stephanie Valtierra ’08
2009: Alexandra Charron ’09 and Melissa Schramm ’09
2010: Daryn Cass ’10 and Jaime Perez ’10
2011: Keith Solvang ’11
2012: Paulius Kuprys ’12 and Madhavi Senagolage ’12
2013: Natalie Kukulka ’13
2014: Katrina Campbell ’14 and Jennifer Yost ’14
2015: Luis Beltran ’15 and Maiwase Tembo ’15
2016: Gabriel Trujillo ’16 and Yuqing Zhu ’16
2017: Max Spehlmann ’17 and Lily Thorsen ’17
2018: Schuyler Kogan ’18 and Junya Li ’18
2019: Jeanne McDonald ’19
Beta Beta Beta Senior Leadership and Service Award
This is an annual prize awarded to one or more seniors for outstanding leadership through service to theBiology Department community over the four years of college. Members of Beta Beta Beta nominate seniors (must be graduating with a major or minor) and the program faculty selects from these nominees. The recipient(s) do not need to members of Beta Beta Beta. The award is presented during the annual Biology Senior Graduation Dinner held at the end of spring semester, each academic year.
2007: Michael Zorniak ’07
2008: Lokesh Kukreja ’08
2009: Alexandra Ayala ’09 and Shaun Davis ’09
2010: Claire Conlisk ’10 and Terese Noe ’10
2011: Alina Konnikova ’11
2012: Saajidha Rizvydeen ’12
2013: Ashley Reich ’13
2014: Hillary Wind ’14
2015: Jeremy Boeing ’15 and Anastisiya Koshkina ’15
2016: Khadijah Hamid ’16
2017: Cam Gudmundson ’17
2018: Amanda Brunges ’18
2019: Elizabeth Bacon ’19
Honors in the Major
Honors at graduation in the student’s major are based on a clear demonstration of superior mastery of the subject and on the ability to successfully complete a senior thesis. To receive honors in the major, a student must have attained a 3.5 GPA in all courses taken in the major at Lake Forest College, including the final semester. A minimum of six courses must have been taken in the major at the College. A student must be evaluated as having successfully completed a senior thesis. In exceptional circumstances when a senior thesis seems inappropriate, a well-documented senior research project or imaginative creative project brought to fruition in the senior year may be substituted for the senior thesis. The request for such a substitution must be initiated by the project director and requires the unanimous approval of the members of the department(s) involved. As with other theses, the final project will be reviewed by a thesis examining committee consisting of three faculty, at least one from outside the department. Please note that completing a senior seminar will not result in honors in the major.
2002: Jennifer McGuire ’02, Svetlana Stamenova ’02,
2003: Angela Eakley ’03, Brandon Johnson ’03
2004: Rachel Gratis ’04, Nijee Sharma ’04
2005: Sara Herrera ’05, Tamara Hibler ’05, David Mann ’05, Arun Paul ’05
2006: Katrina Brandis ’06, Katherine Hampton ’06
2007: Chelsea Beuter ’07, Ethan Helm ’07, Michael White ’07, Chloe Wormser ’07, Michael Zorniak ’07
2008: Alina Elperin ’08, Lokesh Kukreja ’08, Shruti Pore ’08, and Mithaq Vahedi ’08
2009: Alexandra Ayala ’09, Alexandra Charron ’09, Ray Choi 09, Shayn Davis ’09, Stephanne Levin 09, Melissa Schramm ’09, and Nengding Wang ’09
2010: Michael P. Fiske ’10, Jaime Pérez Pineda ’10
2011: Alina Konnikova ’11, Keith Solvang ’11
2012: Daniella Brutman ’12, Jordanah Evans ’12, Robin Graber ’12, Paulius Kuprys ’12, Annabel Naditz ’12, Saajidha Rizvydeen ’12, Madhavi Senagolage ’12, Peter Sullivan ’12, Anneliese Szutenbach ’12, Shabana Yusufishaq ’12
2013: Tyler Hauer ’13, Gaelle Hollandbeck ’13, Natalie Kukulka ’13, Ashley Reich ’13
2014: Kaya Cuper ’14, Katrina Campbell ’14
2015: Luis Beltran ’15, Zhiyu Deng ’15, Maiwase Tembo ’15
2016: Fatima Hooda ’16, Yuqing Zhu ’16
2017: Max Spehlmann ’17, Lily S. Thorsen ’17, Kaitlyn Woodman ’17
2018: Junya Li ’18, Rosemary Thomas ’18
2019: Elizabeth Bacon ’19
Distinction in Senior Thesis
If a student’s senior thesis is judged by an examining committee to be an outstanding and original piece of research, Distinction in Senior Thesis is awarded at graduation regardless of whether the student is graduating with honors in his or her major field of study. In exceptional circumstances, a well-documented senior research project or imaginative creative project may substitute for the senior thesis provided members of the departments
involved give their unanimous approval. As with other theses, the final project will be reviewed by a thesis examining committee consisting of three faculty, at least one from outside the department.
2002: Jennifer McGuire ’02, Ryan Paulsen ’02, Svetlana Stamenova ’02, Lennard Wahberg ’02
2003: Kirsten Hafkemayer ’03, Angela Eakley ’03, Kirsten Hafkemayer ’03, Brandon Johnson ’03
2004: rachel Gratis ’04, Nijee Sharma ’04
2005: Sara Herrera ’05, Tamara Hibler ’05, David Mann ’05, Arun Paul ’05
2006: Katrina Brandis ’06, Katherine Hampton ’06
2007: Chelsea Beuter ’07, Ben Larsen ’07, Karina Nikogosian ’07, Ethan Helm ’07, Michael White ’07, Chloe Wormser ’07, Michael Zorniak ’07
2008: Alina Elperin ’08, Andrew Ferrier ’08, Lokesh Kukreja ’08, Shruti Pore ’08, Stephanie Valtierra ’08, and Mithaq Vahedi ’08
2009: Alexandra Ayala ’09, Alexandra Charron ’09, Ray Choi 09, Shayn Davis ’09, Stephanne Levin 09, Melissa Schramm ’09, and Nengding Wang ’09
2010: Daryn Cass ’10, Michael P. Fiske ’10, Jaime Pérez Pineda ’10, Yama Sadozai ’10
2011: Alina Konnikova ’11, Keith Solvang ’11
2012: Pascal Accoh ’12, Daniella Brutman ’12, Jordanah Evans ’12, Robin Graber ’12, Paulius Kuprys ’12, Annabel Naditz ’12, Saajidha Rizvydeen ’12, Madhavi Senagolage ’12, Peter Sullivan ’12, Anneliese Szutenbach ’12, Shabana Yusufishaq ’12
2013: Tyler Hauer ’13, Gaelle Hollandbeck ’13, Natalie Kukulka ’13, Ashley Reich ’13, Kaila Stephens ’13
2014: Kaya Cuper ’14, Katrina Campbell ’14, Jennifer Yost ’14, Nicole Vachter ’14
2015: Luis Beltran ’15, Zhiyu Deng ’15, Christian Silvestri ’15, Maiwase Tembo ’15
2016: Gabriel Trujillo ’16, Fatima Hooda ’16, Yuqing Zhu ’16
2017: Max Spehlmann ’17, Lily S. Thorsen ’17, Kaitlyn Woodman ’17
2018: Junya Li ’18, Rosemary Thomas ’18
2019: Elizabeth Bacon ’19
Beta Beta Beta
(the national biology academic honorary)
Tri-Beta bestows Regular membership to students that have declared their major in biology, have taken at least three biology courses counting toward the major at Lake Forest College and have received a grade of B or higher in all biology classes taken. The student must have completed at least one semester of second-year curriculum in the biology major. He or she must also have an overall GPA of 3.00. Only Regular members can serve as elected officials for board positions stated in our Constitution.
2000
Elizabeth Bergman ’00
Angela Larson ’00
Jessica Perrine ’00
James Pherson ’00
Marina Petcherkaia ’00
Raymond Ro ’00
Hillary Wala ’00
2001
Renita Abraham ’01
Jeffrey Baker ’01
Alison Grubbs ’01
Mireille Halim ’01
Katherine Healy ’01
Amirah Jonadoss ’01
Aja Lystila ’01
R. Scott McClure ’01
Elizabeth Ruedi ’01
Dana Smith ’01
2002
Konrad Bienia ’02
Charles Evans ’02
Kevin Hadap ’02
Kanwal Shakeel ’02
Svetoslava Stamenova ’02
Elie Storch ’02
Tina Zofakis ’02
2003
Robert Bahde ’03
Sarah Bell ’03
Christina Christ ’03
Angela Eakley ’03
Jillian Hibler ’03
Brandon Johnson ’03
Frank Srejma ’03
2004
Diane Doran ’04
D’Anne Duncan ’04
Samantha England ’04
Rachel Gratis ’04
Anjali Pai ’04
Nijee Sharma ’04
Silvia Skripkauskaite ’04
Adam Timock ’04
2005
Jessie Abruzzi ’05
Jennifer Arns ’05
Sara Herrera ’05
Tamara Hibler ’05
Isaac Holmes ’05
Jasmina Hrsto ’05
Erika Koesling ’05
Abbey Larsen ’05
Louise Mason ’05
Arun Paul ’05
2006
Kristen Garrett ’06
Katherine Hampton ’06
Robert Hartman ’06
Sadie Norwick ’06
Jessica Price ’06
Melissa Stevenson ’06
2007
Snezhana Belukov ’07
Chelsea Beuter ’07
Ethan Helm ’07
Lisa Jeziorny ’07
Ashley Johnson ’07
Jason Kornfeind ’07
Bryan Kratz ’07
Benjamin Larsen ’07
Michelle Mckinzey ’07
Kathryn Michael ’07
Karina Nikogosian ’07
Stella Nisenbaum ’07
Jennifer Riddle ’07
Kimberly Silvers ’07
Michael White ’07
Michael Zorniak ’07
2008
Margaret M. Bower ’08
Michael C. Feng ’08
Jacqueline M. Fiala ’08
Joshua G. Haas ’08
Sheiva Jahanban ’08
Lokesh Kukreja ’08
Krista A. Kusinski ’08
Brittany A. MacLeod ’08
Shruti A. Pore ’08
Maggie A. Rezac ’08
Solmaz Shadman ’08
Lital N. Silverman ’08
Lavinia R. Sinitean ’08
Mítháq Vahedi ’08
Sina Vahedi ’08
Stephanie Valtierra ’08
2009
Alexandra E. Ayala ’09
Ray S. Choi ’09
Shaun M. Davis ’09
Elizabeth A. Dean ’09
Elina Dilmukhametova ’09
Jessica E. Disch ’09
Grace E. Dunford ’09
Nicole D. Fields ’09
Jaymie B. Honold ’09
Stephanne L. Levin ’09
Maksim Meltser ’09
Alejandra Rodriguez-Manriquez ’09
Melissa N. Schramm ’09
Laura A. Thilgen ’09
Jennillee H. Wallace ’09
Nengding Wang ’09
2010
Mohammed E. Ali ’10
Carlos B. Becerra Meneses ’10
Clare C. Conlisk ’10
Stephanie J. Feld ’10
Lauren B. Ferrell ’10
Michael P. Fiske ’10
Matthew W. Greenwood ’10
Elaine R. Gustafson ’10
Paige M. Keasler ’10
Ashley M. Legel ’10
Aaron R. Nash ’10
Terese E. Noe ’10
Jaime Pérez Pineda ’10
Hoyt C. Rees ’10
Yama Sadozai ’10
Grace E. Schlafly ’10
2011
Rebecca M. Brezinsky ’11
Alexandra P. Chase ’11
Kaylyn I. Gasparotto ’11
Maxwell L. Koenen ’11
Alina Konnikova ’11
Elizabeth Pahomov ’11
Ashleigh M. Porter ’11
William C. Press ’11
Elizabeth K. Ross ’11
Natalie Simak ’11
Keith M. Solvang ’11
Brittany M. Stern ’11
Lynn A. Switaj ’11
Shannon N. Ver Woert ’11
Eliot J. Vildaver ’11
Natalia C. Wilkins ’11
2012
Kayla M. Ahlstrand ’12
Lauren A. Bailey ’12
Abigail H. Breseman ’12
Daniella D. Brutman ’12
Jordanah M. Evans ’12
Leah C. Frenette ’12
Emilee W. Gaulke ’12
Robin E. Graber ’12
Allison M. Hamel ’12
Paulius V. Kuprys ’12
Annabel L. Naditz ’12
Saajidha Rizvydeen ’12
Madhavi D. Senagolage ’12
Peter M. Sullivan ’12
Anneliese M. Szutenbach ’12
Shabana S. Yusufishaq ’12
2013
Kyriaki Ades ’13
Christian M. Athens ’13
Roberta Dume ’13
Emily K. Hampden-Smith ’13
Tyler M. Hauer ’13
Gaelle F. Hollandbeck’13
Sajan Koirala ’13
Natalie A. Kukulka ’13
Ashley A. Reich ’13
David A. Sharpe ’13
Jennifer Sojka ’13
Alexus M. Urbanik ’13
Kristen M. Waltos ’13
2014
Elizabeth Althoff ’14
Katrina J. Campbell ’14
Patrick J. Hanes ’14
Galina A. Lipkin ’14
Jillian R. Pastick ’14
Marissa A. Ruiz ’14
Ryan M. Vlaar ’14
Ethan S. D. Waldman ’14
Hilary B. Wind ’14
2015
Yaritza R. Cambron ’15
Amber J. Craghead ’15
Zhiyu Deng ’15
Ryan R. Drake ’15
Michele N. Giurovici ’15
Anastasiya D. Koshkina ’15
Olga V. Kutkovska’15
Jason J. McAloon ’15
Nichole R. Monhait ’15
Peter L. Nesper ’15
Dianna R. Saakov ’15
Natalie Zemela ’15
2016
Megan E. Crocco ’16
Rachel E. Granberg ’16
Khadijah Hamid ’16
Heather Heitkotter ’16
Fatima Hooda ’16
Yusuf Ismail ’16
Tyler M. Kaplan ’16
Josephine R. Masandika ’16
Samuel A. Mercier ’16
Yuri Parasiuk ’16
Keke L. Roberts ’16
Rahul B. Thakuri ’16
Yuqing Zhu ’16
2017
Casey J. Cusano ’17
Fernando Figueroa ’17
Tara K. Gloystein ’17
Cam J. Gudmundson ’17
John J. Lewis ’17
Ana L. McCracken ’17
Michael S. Peters ’17
Janet L. Robinson ’17
Brittany R. Schweiger ’17
Danielle M. Shaw ’17
Max Spehlmann ’17
Lily S. Thorsen ’17
Abigail V. Toohey ’17
Alexandra S. Wedro ’17
Kaitlyn M. Woodman ’17
2019
Elisabeth Bacon ’19
Maria Bouzarelos Kopta ’19
Jeane McDonald ’19
Isha Khalil ’19
Julia Matuschek ’19
Fatemah Riahi ’19
Tiffany Stiewe ’19