KU News Release

KU classics department honors 2009 award recipients

LAWRENCE — The Department of Classics at the University of Kansas recognized 11 of its top students with more than $5,500 in awards and scholarships at its 34th annual spring honors reception.

Eleanor Winsor Leach, the Ruth N. Halls Professor of Classical Studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, spoke to the group on “All that Glitters is Glass: Mosaic Decorated Fountains in Roman Campania.”

Anthony Corbeill, professor of classics at KU, presented special honors to students for outstanding achievements relating to classics, classical languages and classical antiquity at the May 4 event.

In addition to the four Tenney Frank Undergraduate Scholarships and four Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarships, awards presented included:

— The Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics, which is awarded by vote of the classics faculty to four students who will study abroad.
— The Albert O. Greef Fund in the Classics, which provides an award to a student enrolled in a Greek or Latin course for the best translation of a passage from Greek or Latin literature.
— The Mildred Lord Greef Award in Classics, which honors the best paper written for a classics course.
— The Austin Lashbrook Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding overall contribution to the classics program as determined by the classics faculty.
— The Hannah Oliver Latin Prize, which is determined by a competitive exam.
— The Sterling-Walker Prize in Greek, which is awarded to any student enrolled in a Greek course, is determined by a competitive exam.

Also recognized at the ceremony was Vanessa Copple, a junior from Sandy, Utah, who received a Harley S. Nelson Family Scholarship Award made available through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to noteworthy students in humanities or social science departments.

KU Endowment manages the funds for the awards and scholarships. KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit foundation serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

Students who won awards are listed below by hometown, major, parents’ names (when available), previous school attended and award or scholarship received.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66049
Matthew Steinle, junior in classical languages and philosophy with a minor in classics, son of Robert Steinle and Tarita Carpenter; Faith Academy in Makati City, Philippines; Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarship.

FRANKLIN COUNTY
From Ottawa 66067
Cara Polsley, senior in classical antiquity and classical languages, daughter of David and Kathryn Polsley; Olathe Christian School in Olathe; Sterling-Walker Prize in Greek.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66285
Erik Mortensen, junior in classical languages, son of Cartsen and Julie Mortensen; Basehor-Linwood High School in Basehor; Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics and Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarship.

From Overland Park 66206
Ryan Donegan, senior in classical languages, son of Kathleen Donegan; Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village; Hannah Oliver Latin Prize and Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics.

From Overland Park 66213
Kayleigh Peterson, junior in classical antiquity and French, daughter of Kenneth and Megan Peterson; Olathe East High School; Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarship.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Basehor 66007
Thomas Moody, senior in classical antiquity and classical languages preparing to study medicine, son of Carolyn Hund-Moody; Basehor-Linwood High School; Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics and Tenney Frank Undergraduate Scholarship.

From Leavenworth 66048
Michelle Schwartzman, junior in classical antiquity, daughter of Robert and Melissa Schwartzman; Leavenworth Senior High School; Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
From St. Marys 66536
Emilie Jordan, master’s student in classics; bachelor’s degree from St. Marys College; Albert O. Greef Translation Award.

SHERIDAN COUNTY
From Hoxie 67740
Loren Cressler, junior in classical languages and English, son of Herbert and Marita Cressler; Hoxie High School; Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarships.

MISSOURI
From Maryville 64468
Jeffrey Easton, master’s student in classics; bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University; Mildred Lord Greef Essay Award and Austin Lashbrook Award.

UTAH
From Sandy 84093
Vanessa Copple, junior in classical antiquity and history of art with a business minor, daughter of Kennis Wessel and Susan Copple; West High School in Salt Lake City, Utah; Nelson Scholarship Award.

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