Awards

Faculty/Staff University Awards

Award for Excellence in Teaching

• 2021 Carmen Serrano, Associate Profession, Hispanic Studies
• 2018 Véronique Martin, Lecturer, French Studies
• 2010 Eloise Brière, Associate Professor, French Studies
• 2009 Aida Torres-Horwitt, Lecturer, Hispanic Studies
• 2007 Lotfi Sayahi, Associate Professor, Hispanic Studies
• 1997 Ernest Scatton, Professor, Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures

Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Teaching Assistant

• 2012 Nabila El Guennouni, Teaching Assistant, French Studies
• 2009 Elise Bouhet, Teaching Assistant, French Studies
• 2008 Alice Krause, Teaching Assistant, Hispanic Studies
• 2006 Neil Pischner, Teaching Assistant, French Studies

Award for Excellence in Research

• 2007 David Wills, Professor, French Studies
• 2006 Sophie Lubensky, Professor, Slavic & Eurasian Studies
• 2003 Mary Beth Winn, Professor, French Studies
• 2002 Henryk Baran, Professor, Slavic & Eurasian Studies

Award for Excellence in Academic Service

• 2018 Cynthia Fox, Associate Professor, French Studies
• 2001 Charles Rougle, Associate Professor, Slavic & Eurasian Studies
• 1998 Eloise Brière, Associate Professor, French Studies
• 1997 Mary Beth Winn, Professor, French Studies

Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching

• 2022 Carmen Serrano, Associate Profession, Hispanic Studies
• 2010 Eloise Brière, Associate Professor, French Studies
• 2007 Lotfi Sayahi, Associate Professor, Hispanic Studies

Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

• 2018-2019 Cynthia Fox, Associate Professor, French Studies

The Terra

• 2019 Sara Zahler, Assistant Professor, Hispanic and Italian Studies

The Louise C. and Earl M. Applegate Award - Initiatives for Women

• 2018 Alejandra Aguilar, Assistant Professor of Hispanic and Italian Studies, Research on Afro-descendant writers in Latin America

The Judy L Genshaft Award - Initiatives for Women

• 2019 Ilka Kressner, Associate Professor, Hispanic and Italian Studies
• 2018 Megan Solon, Associate Professor, Hispanic and Italian Studies

Disabled Student Services Outstanding Achievement Award

• 2007 Elizabeth Lansing, Visiting Assistant Professor, Hispanic Studies

Distinguished Service Professor Award

• 1999 Ernest Scatton, Professor, Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures

Diversity Leadership Award

• 2007 Eloise Brière, Professor, French Studies

Recent Student Awards

Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

• 2021 Sana Effendi, SPN/BIO double major

Center of Undergrad Research and Creative Engagement Summer Stipend Program

• 2021 Michaela Kirwan

Dissertation Research Fellowship Award

• 2018 Farah Ali, Hispanic Studies
• 2017 Nyssa Knarvik, Hispanic Studies
• 2016 Cecily Corbett, Hispanic Studies
• 2016 Nyssa Knarvik, Hispanic Studies
• 2015 Arnold Robles, Hispanic Studies
• 2010 Kathryn Ringer-Hilfinger, Hispanic Studies

Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award

• 2017 Elise Bouhet, FRE PhD

Graduate Student Organization Grants

• 2018 Farah Ali, SPN PhD, Professional Development Grant (travel)
• 2017 Farah Ali, SPN PhD, Professional Development Grant (travel), and Research Grant
• 2012 Nabila El Guenounni, FRE PhD, Fall grant for Travel
• 2012 Abeer Aloush, FRE PhD, Spring grant for Research
• 2012 Elise Bouhet, FRE PhD, Spring grant for Travel

Gonfalon Bearer (CAS) - Commencement Ceremony

• 2013 Patrick E. Lawrence, SPN MA

Initiatives for Women

• 2022 Rocío Leguisamon, PhD, Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers Fund Award
• 2022 Nerisha Padillla Cruz, PhD, Initiatives for Women Endowment Award
• 2020 Marina Bonilla, SPN PhD, Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers Fund scholarship award
• 2017 Farah Ali, SPN PhD
• 2014 Ashley LaBoda, SPN PhD, Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers Fund scholarship award
• 2012 Abeer Aloush, SPN PhD, Spring grant for Research for her project "The relationship between religion and violence: multiculturalism and Islamism in the French suburbs."

Residential Life Outstanding Achievement Award

• 2012 Johamna Hernandez, SPN minor

SUNY CRUE Scholarship

• 2012 David Benedict, SPN major/FRE and LIN minor
• 2012 Christopher Lennon, SPN major
• 2012 Farrell Luttinger, FRE (Honors) major and Spanish 2nd major
• 2012 Ana Ureña, SPN BA/MA

UAlbany Presidential Award for Undergraduate Research

• 2020 Anthony Scalise, SPN major, for his project “A diachronic study of Iberian leismo from the 13th to the 20th centuries"
• 2018 Nadine Zaky Kotb, SPN major, for her project "Gender assignment to English nouns in Arabic in New York."
• 2012 Pamela Alvarado, FRE major and SPN minor, for her project "Variation and Maintenance of Spanish in Colorado: The Case of Fort Lupton."
• 2012 John Teevan III, FRE major, for his Honors Thesis in French Studies (with Professor Jean-François Brière): “Golden Age or Rusted Decline? The Successes and Failures of the Third Republic in France, 1870-1940.”

UAlbany President's Award for Leadership

• 2012 Michael Brown, SPN minor; Sara Cole, SPN major; Jillian Egan, SPN minor; Emily Finnegan, SPN minor; Nicoletta Gallo, ITA major; Matthew Russo, SPN minor.

UAlbany President's Award for Outstanding Senior

• 2015 Victoria Robertson, SPN major (Honors)
• 2013 Lauren Bailey, SPN minor
• 2013 Laura Colaneri, SPN major
• 2013 Emily Finnegan, SPN minor

UAlbany President's Award for Student Excellence

• 2013 Emily Finnegan, SPN minor

University at Albany's Benevolent Association Research Grants

• 2017 Farah Ali, SPN PhD
• 2012 Abeer Aloush, FRE PhD

Société des professeurs français et francophones d’Amérique

• 2013 Krislin Cherian, BSN major and Stephanie Erev, FRE minors awarded $4000 scholarships.

Sigma Delta Pi Award

• 2019 Kaitlin Moen, SPN BA

UAlbany Foundation

The Ada Craig Walker Award

• 2013 Laura Colaneri, SPN major

Spellman Achievement Award for Academic Excellence

• 2016 Oyenike Ilaka, FRE minor

LLC Department Awards

LLC faculty annually grant departmental awards in academic excellence to outstanding students. Since 2003 over 130 LLC students have received merit awards. The department gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions from alumni and friends of LLC who make these awards possible.

The Eleanor Bazzoni 1906 Fellowship Award

Established by Charles Bazzoni in honor of his sister (class of 1906), is for outstanding academic achievement in English, French or German (awarded to an LLC Department student odd years and to an English Department student even years).

• 2022 Aaron King, FRE minor
• 2020 Sarah El Younsi, FRE minor
• 2018 Caroline Scott, FRE minor
• 2017 Danielle Fico, GER student and Luis Ramirez, FRE minor
• 2016 Oyenike Ilaka, FRE minor and Michael Kriesberg, GER student
• 2015 Jonathan Augustin, FRE student and Siena Phillips, Interdisciplinary Major (FRE studies)
• 2013 Mylène Assi, GER student and Matthew Patrick Kelly, FRE major

The Frank Carrino Memorial Scholarship

Established in memory of Professor Emeritus Frank Carrino (Spanish), is awarded to an undergraduate LLC junior or senior who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance.

• 2023 Claudia Pique, SPN major
• 2022 Jalibeth Sepúlveda, SPN major
• 2021 Carolynn Supliski, SPN major/BIO major
• 2020 Michaela Kirwan, SPN major/BIO major
• 2020 Lauren Salazar, FRE minor
• 2019 James Ashley, SPN major
• 2018 Ines Garía Rojas, SPN major/COM major
• 2017 Niamh O’Sullivan, SPN major/Act'g major
• 2016 Luke Gregory, SPN major/CRJ major
• 2015 Victoria Robertson, SPN major (Honors)
• 2014 Alease Holden, SPN major/LING major
• 2013 Benjamin Mielenz, SPN major
• 2012 Katja Higgins, SPN major

The Guy A. Enfanto Memorial Award for Excellence

Established by Guy A. Enfanto (BA '35, MA '41), long standing Principal of Troy High School, honors students who demonstrate academic excellence in French language or culture.

• 2023 Gabriel Formica, FRE/HIS interdisciplinary major
• 2022 Barbara Buck, FRE minor
• 2021 Emily Lucy, FRE minor
• 2020 Sarah Hulbert , FRE minor
• 2019 Mirren Galway, FRE minor
• 2018 Mariantha Docous, FRE minor
• 2017 Richard Opoku, FRE minor
• 2016 Joselynn Myers, FRE minor
• 2015 Shirley Bushuyu, FRE minor
• 2014 Spencer Turner, FRE minor
• 2013 Alex Esposito, FRE major
• 2012 Pamela Alvarado, FRE major

The Anthony M. Gisolfi Memorial Award

Established by the Gisolfi Family in memory of Professor Gisolfi (Italian), is given to an academically outstanding undergraduate majoring in Italian or Spanish who intends to pursue a career in teaching and who shows evidence of commitment to the field.

• 2023 Tatjana Budesheim, SPN major
• 2022 Jessica Dandrow, SPN major
• 2021 Michelle Monaco, SPN major
• 2020 Erika Burke, SPN major
• 2019 Kaitlin Moen, SPN major
• 2018 Elizabeth Batty, SPN major
• 2017 Katrina Abad, SPN major
• 2016 Katarina Spero, SPN major/ANT major
• 2015 Latiqua Liles, SPN major/CRJ major
• 2014 Joshua DeClerck, SPN major/ ITA-LING major/ FRE-LING major
• 2013 Primo Stropoli, ITA major
• 2012 Nicoletta Gallo, ITA major

The Marcia Goldman Mayer Award

• 2023 Anne Belizaire & Meredith Minor, FRE minor
• 2022 Rian Davis, FRE minor & Aaron King, FRE minor
• 2021 Olivia Hetfield, FRE minor & Kaya Rifenberg-Stempel, Interdisciplinary major (FRE in Politics), RUS minor
• 2020 Julia Lapper, FRE minor
• 2019 Shelby Peltier, Pamela Dolcine, Meghan E. McGrath, and Jo Mead
• 2018 Marianthi Constance Docous
• 2018 Oyenika Ilaka

Maurice J. Westmoreland Award

In memory of Spanish professor Maurice J. Westmoreland, this award recognizes Spanish graduate student excellence.

• 2023 Nerisha Padilla Cruz
• 2022 Rocio Leguisamon
• 2021 Ethan Sims
• 2020 Amber Bradley
• 2019 Benjamin Mielenz

Excellence in Teaching by a Spanish TA Award

• 2023 Caitlin Fanning
• 2022 Sarah Rubio
• 2021 Nerisha De Nil Padilla Cruz
• 2020 Marina Bonilla
• 2019 Amber Bradley
• 2018 Alice R. Mathias Da Silva Seixas
• 2017 Pamela Alvarado-McNamara and Tara Feeney
• 2016 Cecily Corbett and Nyssa Knarvik
• 2015 Victor Lucio
• 2014 Leonardo Correa
• 2013 Ashley LaBoda
• 2012 Zahir Mumin

Excellence in Arabic Award

• 2023 Kyle Karp
• 2022 Rachel Swald
• 2021 Trinity Hallenbeck
• 2020 William Rubin
• 2019 Gregory Horsefield
• 2018 Sam Spampinato

Excellence in German Award

• 2023 Thomas Verbicky
• 2022 Anders Iaconelli
• 2021 Willow Marshall
• 2020 Luke Morello
• 2019 Adam King
• 2018 Miles Oborne

Excellence in Hebrew Award

• 2018 Ryan Fox

Excellence in Italian Award

• 2023 Lily Polczak
• 2022 Michael Gatto
• 2021 Jasmine Garcia
• 2020 Sophia Eifler
• 2019 Peyton Denault
• 2018 Christina Natale
• 2015 Alexandra Bricault

Excellence in Latin Award

• 2023 Colin Mance
• 2022 John Healy
• 2021 Connor J McKenna
• 2020 Christopher Stewart
• 2019 Richard Wood
• 2018 Mia McDonough

Excellence in Portuguese Award

• 2023 Wania Hermanstyne
• 2022 Valerie Goris
• 2021 Alexi Moro
• 2020 Alana Torres-Trinidad
• 2019 Jessica Rosas
• 2018 Mayara Oliveira

Excellence in Russian Award

• 2023 Vincent Carucci
• 2022 Leanna Weston
• 2021 Giuliana Crocco
• 2020 Kaya Rifenberg-Stempel
• 2019 Justin Healy
• 2018 Michael Jennings

The Cynthia A. Fox Award for Excellence in Service in LLC

• 2023 Carmen Serrano, Associate Professor of Spanish
• 2022 Elizabeth Lansing, Lecturer of Spanish & Geneviève Oliveira, Visiting Assistant Professor of French 
• 2021 Janna Harton, Administrative Manager & Denise Osborne, Lecturer of Portuguese

The Mildred L. Schmidt Award

• 2014 Ariel Ross, Latin student

The Class of 1952 Award

• 2015 Teresa Peralta, SPN major-BIO major
• 2014 Michael Maneen, RUS-LING major, FRE-LING major, International Relations major
• 2014 Joshua DeClerck, SPN major, ITA-LING major, FRE-LING major