Jessica Cuman, Hannela Jane, Makie Maekawa, America Orozco, Natali Ronquillo-Garcia, Rebecca Straznickas, Alia Thiel
Members are elected each year in acknowledgment of their high scholarly achievements, their pursuit of liberal learning, and their intellectual integrity and curiosity. Mills College was granted a charter by the national honor society of Phi Beta Kappa on September 12, 1928. Zeta Chapter in the State of California was installed March 16, 1929.
Hintikka Phi Beta Kappa Junior Prize
Rebecca Straznickas
Aniella Aguiar, Haifa Algabri, Valeria Araujo, Lana Batpiste, Meredyth Cohen, Alexis Coleman, Natalie Davis, Ashlee Davis, Shyanne Elbert-Riker, Bertha Gallegos, Ka'ilihiwa Greig, Grace Hirschfield, Katja Hodnett, Cassandra James, Julia Juarez-Kostelnik, Victoria Lam, Daniella Ledezma, Zadie Moon, Alexandra Moreno, Klarissa Oceguera, America Orozco, Alia Phelps, Abigail Selby, Soph Su, Anais Uriarte, Alison Washington, Tess Waxman, Jessica Williams
Recognizes juniors and seniors who combine academic excellence with service to the
College over their entire time at Mills. Palladium requires a 3.0 GPA.
Ekua-Yaaba Monkah
Established in 1949, this award is given to an outstanding graduate provides support
for graduate study abroad or in the US.
Robin Mitchell
This monetary award was established in 1927 for excellence in scholarship.
Lee Mariño Clyne
Recognizes a student, or a faculty or staff member for their dedication to securing
equal rights and combating discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people.
Community Health Resource Center
Recognizes a club/organization that has demonstrated leadership in working towards racial justice, gender justice, and intersecting causes and exhibited involvement working for freedom, solidarity, and/or dignity for all people. Presented to an organization that has demonstrated through their events and activities, outstanding collaboration and dedication to educating the Mills and broader community in support of the College’s and the ASMC mission.
Grace "Ty" Searing Dhaemers Art History Award
Olivia Olson-Roberts
The Grace “Ty” Dhaemers Art History Scholarship is a merit scholarship for undergraduate
students studying art history.
Robert A. Dhaemers Award in Three-Dimensional Art
Emma Doven
Scholarship for academic year 2023
These art history awards are based on academic merit and given to juniors who will
be returning to Mills as seniors in the fall.
Ralph DuCasse Studio Art Award
Ava Lynch
Scholarship for academic year 2023
This scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior majoring in studio art with an emphasis
in drawing and painting.
Hung Liu Prize
announced at convocation
For excellence in studio art.
Jay DeFeo MFA Prize
announced at convocation
Established under the terms of the artist's will through an endowment to Mills College,
the Jay DeFeo Prize at Mills College is awarded annually to one (or more) graduating
Master of Fine Arts student(s) in Studio Art.
Wellhausen Family Award
Ray Lewis
This award, in honor of Dorothy Bank, is given for the Senior Show.
Eleanor E. Crum Award in Ceramics
Jasmine Scandalis
This prize was established in 1968 from the estate of William L. Crum in honor of
his wife. This award is given to students for excellence in ceramics.
Photographic Prize for Creative Excellence
Madeline Hsu, Asher Quinn
This prize is awarded to a student who has continued to show creative excellence and
experimentation in the medium of photography.
Creative Excellence in the Senior Thesis Exhibition Award
Ellie Welsh Ferreyra
Eugene Trefethen Award
Zadie Moon
This award recognizes the graduating senior scholar-athlete with the highest cumulative
GPA.
Karen Koshak Prize
Hanela Jane
This award is given in recognition of an exemplary healthy, well-balanced and physically
active lifestyle and promotion of the physical education program.
Elizabeth Rheem Stoner Prize
Ella Bramwell
Awarded to a student for outstanding contribution to the recreation program.
Biology Department Above and Beyond Award
Kayla Lim
For outstanding contribution.
Barbara Bowman Molecular Award
Elizabeth Dixon
The award is given to a graduating senior who demonstrates passionate curiosity and
appreciation of all things molecular and cellular.
Caryl Parker Haskins Prize
Gray Adams, Anais Noemi Uriarte
This prize was established in 1966 in honor of former Trustee Dr. Haskins for distinction
in the life sciences.
John Harris Award
Mimi Lucking, Cassie Oberhauser
For academic excellence in biology.
Center for the Book Award for Excellence in Book Art
Erin Iams, undergraduate
Joey Gage, graduate
This award sponsored by Mills College Center for the Book, recognizes a student who
has made a significant commitment to book art throughout her undergraduate studies
and has demonstrated overall excellence in her classes and projects.
Rosalind Keep Award
Eve Scarborough
This award honors the student who has substantially contributed to the Book Art Program
in ways that help to build community and foster inclusion.
Alie Ogborn Jackson Barry Award
Robin Mitchell
Established by a gift from Mrs. Aphia Wallan in memory of her mother, this is awarded
to an outstanding chemistry student.
Helen Pillans Award
Hannela Jane
This award is given in honor of Helen Pillans, who taught at Mills for many years
and was responsible for the establishment of the computer science program in the 1960s.
Lennox-McEntyre Award
Benjamin Hamrick
This award is given for excellence in computer science and contributions to the computer
science community. Formerly the Diane McEntyre Award, recently renamed the Lennox-McEntyre
Award, in honor of the late Carol Lennox rquot;61.
Dance Department Merit Award
Moriah Costa
This award is given for exceptional growth and achievement.
E. L. Wiegand Foundation Dance Department Excellence in Creativity and Innovation
Award
Ye Feng
This award is given for exceptional originality in performance and choreography.
E. L. Wiegand Foundation Dance Department Merit Award
Brittany Mathis, Caitlin Vanderveen
This award is given for outstanding academic work and a spirit of open inquiry.
E. L. Wiegand Foundation Dance Department Excellence in Teaching Award
Tawni Pizzagoni
This award is given for outstanding thesis research.
E. L. Wiegand Foundation Dance Department Valor Award
Wade Reynolds
This award is given for stellar dedication to both the art and the community.
Marion Ross Endowed Scholarship
Sonia Erlikh
Scholarship for academic year 2022
This award is given in honor of Dr. Marion Ross, respected alumna and former economics
professor at Mills. It is awarded for excellence in economics.
Joan Henry Endowed Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
Rosalinda Inostrosa
Commitment to Social Justice Masters in Education with an Emphasis in Teaching
Jeanette Ramos
Classroom Research Focus Masters in Education with an Emphasis in Teaching
Justin Ho
Commitment to Social Justice in Teaching Single Subject Teacher Credential Program
Asha Hannah
Commitment to Social Justice in Teaching Multiple Subject Teacher Credential Program
Jessica Florey
Representing Reflective and Integrated Teaching Practice Single Subject Teacher Credential
Program
Kendra Lubalin
Representing Reflective and Integrated Teaching Practice Multiple Subject Teacher
Credential Program
Sean Sawyer
Commitment to Social Justice in Early Childhood Education
Kayanat Khan, Simge Yurdakul, Rachel Cristofani
Representing Theory and Practice in Early Childhood Education
Angela Nwokike, Ariela Ronay-Jinich, Kanoko Nishi, Karen Wilson
Reflective and Integrated Practice in Early Childhood Education
Eunice Lee, Sima Misra, Cynthia Ho
Commitment to Social Justice Leadership
Sundown Collins, Kayla Deur, Sophia Jaggi, Kurt Kaaekuahiwi, Erin Turner, Sam Watson-Alvarado
Senior Distinction in Child Development Award
Meredyth Cohen, Rosalinda Inostrosa, Deshaun Myles
Amanda Davis MFA Thesis in Fiction Award
Sarah Garcia
This thesis prize for fiction is in memory of Mills English professor Amanda Davis
who died in a plane crash while promoting her first novel in March 2003.
Ardella Mills Prize
Critical Essay:
Undergraduate—Abigail Selby
Graduate—Caroline Gasparini
Prizes given for excellence in literary composition was established in 1931, by a
bequest of Maria Elizabeth Mills, in memory of her daughter.
English I Essay Prize
Madison Escoto
This award is for an essay written in English 001 class for both fall and spring semesters.
Leila Abu-Saba Prize
Tri-an Cao, Emma Chisholm, Suzy Jane Edwards, Anita Levin, KJ McCoy, Meena Ramakrishnan,
Kimberly Wainscoat
This prize is given to emerging graduate student writers in prose.
Marion Hood Boess Haworth Prize
Undergraduate—Ari FitzGibbon
Graduate—Sarah Garcia
The award is given for excellence in fiction for children's and young adult literature.
Mary Merritt Henry Prize
Undergraduate—Anais Batiz-Fischetti
Undergraduate Honorable Mention—Angelica Erskine
Graduate—Briana Grogan
Graduate Honorable Mention—Dana DeFranco
Established in 1921, these prizes are awarded for a group of poems by students.
Melody Clarke Teppola Prize in Creative Writing
Fiction:
Undergraduate—Lily Johnstone
Graduate—Sarah Garcia
Creative Nonfiction:
Graduate—KJ McCoy
This prize recognizes students for original thinking and superior writing.
MFA Thesis in Poetry
Briana Grogan, Zehra Shah
This thesis prize honors an excellent work of poetry.
Ethnic Studies Outstanding Scholarship Award
Guadalupe Cisneros
This award recognizes a student(s) who has achieved overall academic excellence in
the department.
Reaching Beyond Award
Jazmine Taylor
This award recognizes excellence in building coalitions between communities of color
on campus and through service to the community. This award highlights the importance
of building unity in diversity in order to achieve social change.
The Spirit of Dolores Huerta Award
Sage Gaspar
This award recognizes the student who has demonstrated the kind of courageous and
conscientious pursuit of justice as evinced in the person of Dolores Huerta.
Anne Hummel Sherrill Endowed Scholarship
Emily Mercer
This scholarship is awarded to the top junior student in history. The award is determined
in the spring and applied toward senior year tuition.
Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society
Madeline Hsu, Christina Murray Bechaux
Phi Alpha Theta is the national honor society for history whose mission is to promote
the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication
and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.
Reynold M. Wik Award
Christine (Ginger) Murray Bechaux
Established in 1998, this prize is awarded to the outstanding senior in history.
Frog Peak Collective Experimental Music Award
Jefferson Doyle, Angela Edwards
This is awarded to a graduate student who has completed an outstanding thesis on experimental
music or who has contributed to the community of experimental musicians.
Margaret Lyon Music Student Prize
Adam Briggs, Krishna Jhaveri, Stanley Summy
Established in 2004 in memory of Dr. Margaret Lyon, head of the music department for
twenty-five years, by her family, friends and students. This prize is awarded to outstanding
music students.
Maurthea Friedberger Cup
Chloe Abeyta
This award is given to the most outstanding senior music major.
Music Department Community Leadership Award
Krishna Jhaveri
This award is given to students for excellence in performance.
Paul Merritt Henry Prize
David Lechuga-Espadas
This prize was established in 1928 by Aurelia Henry Reinhardt during her presidency
at Mills as a memorial to her brother. It is awarded for excellence in the musical
composition of stringed instruments.
Bruce McCollum Prize
Robin Mitchell, Tess Waxman
Established in 1960 by Mrs. Bruce McCollum in memory of her husband, this award is
given to a senior majoring in science or mathematics with the highest attainment in
scholarship.
Commitment to Health Equity and Social Justice Award
Haifa Algabri
This award is given to a student for their outstanding leadership and advocacy in
promoting health equity and social justice in public health.
Excellence in Community Partnership Award
Ekua-Yaaba Monkah
This award is given to a student for their outstanding service in fostering community
partnerships for public health initiatives.
Academic Excellence in Public Health
Tess Waxman
This award is given to a student for their academic and scholastic achievements in
public health.
Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society
Ruth Acevedo, Ashwini Bartolluci, Zoe Davis, Bertha Gallegos, Ka'ilihiwa Greig, Iris
Kennedy, Emily Lipkind, Emily Mercer, Anna Miller, Hoda Omar, Eleanor Smith, Kaya
Stackhouse, Alyana Willis
Sociology Student of the Year
Ashlee Davis
Established in 1998, this honor is awarded for active contributions to the sociology
program at Mills in addition to the achievement of academic excellence.
Maria Naumann-Etienne Prize
Ashwini Bartolucci, Bredelyn Hernádez Ramos, Karina Izazaga Muñoz, Caroline J Love,
Zulma Tayun Ixcoy, Estefani Villagomez Rosas, Alicia M Zimmermann
For Spanish and Spanish American studies students who have a special interest in South
American literature and culture.
Certificado de Honor
Ashwini Bartolucci, Bredelyn Hernádez Ramos, Karina Izazaga Muñoz, Caroline J Love,
Zulma Tayun Ixcoy, Estefani Villagomez Rosas, Alicia M Zimmermann
Essay Prize
Queer Studies Writing Contest
Sage Madans, Noah Snell
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Writing Contest
Guadalupe Cisneros, Sage Madans
This award is given to an undergraduate student for the best women's, gender and sexulity
studies essay or nonfiction paper.
Zimmer Award
Guadalupe Cisneros, Sage Madans
This is awarded for outstanding scholarship and community service in women's, gender
and sexuality studies.
Haifa Algabri
Senior with outstanding service to the College over their entire time at Mills
Alia Phelps
Recognizes a junior student has demonstrated leadership in working towards racial and gender justice and intersecting causes and exhibited involvement working for freedom, solidarity, and/or dignity for all people.
Alison Washington
Recognizes a first-year, sophomore, or new transfer who has demonstrated leadership in working towards racial justice, gender justice, and intersecting causes and exhibited involvement working for freedom, solidarity, and/or dignity for all people.
Damany Harden
Recognizes a graduate student who has demonstrated leadership in working towards racial justice, gender justice, and intersecting causes and exhibited involvement working for freedom, solidarity, and/or dignity for all people.
Victoria Lam
Established by Alumna Edyth Chan to recognize an Asian American student for demonstrated leadership on campus.
Damany Harden
Recognizes a student who demonstrates social justice advocacy in service to the Black community.
America Orozco
Recognizes a student who demonstrates social justice advocacy in service to the Latinx community.
Haifa Algabri
Recognizes a student who demonstrates social justice advocacy in service to international issues and global justice.
Ka'ilihiwa Greig
Recognizes a student who demonstrates social justice advocacy in service to Indigenous communities.
Tenaya Byrd
Recognizes a student or a faculty or staff member for their dedication and advocacy for women.
Alison Washington
Recognizes a student who is innovative in their approach to leadership at the intersections of spirituality, religion, and social change within the Mills campus community.
Zadie Moon
Recognizes a student who has demonstrated leadership and social justice advocacy in furthering environmental and social sustainability into the campus culture.
Alexandra Moreno
Recognizes a student for outstanding service to the Division of Student Life over their entire time at Mills.
Anais Uriarte
Recognizes a student who has participated in sports at Mills and has exhibited involvement
working for freedom, solidarity, and/or dignity for all people.
Sophia Su
Recognizes a student who has exhibited excellence in the arts and/or effectively used art as a medium for social change.