KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The Department of Classics at the University of Kansas recognized 13 of its top students with awards and scholarships at its 35th annual spring honors reception.

Roshan Abraham, assistant professor of classics and religious studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., spoke to the group on “Divination and Divinization in the Greek Magical Papyri.” He received a bachelor’s in classical languages from KU in fall 2002.

Stanley Lombardo, professor of classics at KU, presented special honors to students for outstanding achievements relating to classics, classical languages and classical antiquity.

In addition to the 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 awards to students 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 Matthew Steinle, a junior from Lawrence, who received a Harley S. Nelson Family Scholarship 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 was 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 schools attended and award or scholarship received.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66046
Douglas Austin Hamilton, senior in classical languages; bachelor’s degree in English from KU, spring 1998; Bentonville (Ark.) High School; Albert O. Greef Translation Award.

Monique Sarah Imair, master’s student in classics; bachelor’s degree from William Jewell College, spring 2008; Sterling-Walker Prize in Greek – first place and Albert O. Greef Translation Award – second place.

From Lawrence 66049
Matthew Tyler Steinle, senior in classical languages and philosophy; son of Robert Steinle and Tarita Carpenter; Faith Academy, Makati City, Philippines; Harley S. Nelson Family Scholarship Award.

FRANKLIN COUNTY
From Ottawa 66067
Cynthia Carolyn Polsley, master’s student in classics; bachelor’s degrees in classical languages and classical antiquity from KU, fall 2009; Olathe Christian School; Sterling-Walker Prize in Greek – first place and Albert O. Greef Translation Award – Best All Around.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66215
Andrew Perry Clark, senior in classical languages and classical antiquity; Shawnee Mission West High School, Overland Park; Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics and Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarship.

From Lenexa 66285
Erik Christoffer Mortensen, senior in classical languages; son of Cartsen and Julie Mortensen; Basehor-Linwood High School; Mildred Lord Greef Award.

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

From Overland Park 66221
Harrison Cody Haynes, sophomore in anthropology and classical languages; son of Martin and Patricia Thomas; Blue Valley Northwest High School; Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarship.

From Prairie Village 66207
Joseph Charles Marx, freshman in classical languages and English; son of Paul and Kathleen Marx; Shawnee Mission East High School; Hannah Oliver Latin Award – first place and Sterling-Walker Prize in Greek – second place.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth 66048
Elisabeth Grace Broaddus, senior in classical languages and English; daughter of Matthew and Angela Broaddus; Atchison High School; Hannah Oliver Latin Award – second place and Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66109
Lauren Annette Callahan, senior in classical antiquity and history of art; bachelor’s from Kansas State University, fall 2007; Sumner Academy of Art and Science; Department of Classics Undergraduate Scholarship.

INDIANA
From West Lafayette 47906
Noah Duncan Smutz, junior in classical languages; son of William and Gina Smutz; Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park, Kan.; Tenney Frank Award for Foreign Study in Classics.

UTAH
From Sandy 84093
Vanessa A. Copple, senior in classical antiquity and history of art; daughter of Kennis Wessel and Susan Copple; West High School, Salt Lake City, Utah; Austin Lashbrook Award.