Awards | University at Albany

LLC Department Awards

LLC faculty annually grant departmental excellence awards. Since 2000 over 200 awards have been given. 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 every other year to an LLC Department student and to an English Department student in opposite years).

2024 Josilyn Bouffard, FRE minor
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.

2025 Ellie Marshall, SPN major
2024 Arely González, SPN major/LAS major
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

Mary Elizabeth Vogle Colucci '77 Memorial Scholarship

Established in memory of Mary Elizabeth Vogle Colucci is given to an LLC student who excels in studying at least two languages in the UAlbany Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (LLC), and/or who shows a passion for learning an LLC language and its related culture/s and has studied/will be studying that language/culture abroad.

2025 Danny Peck, SPN major & CSCI major
2024 Casey Navin, SPN and EHC/EMERP 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.

2025 Natalie Specht, FRE minor
2024 Marco Eugene, FRE minor
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.

2025 Tammy Diaz, SPN major
2024 Shayne Durkin, SPN major
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

2025 Coumba Bah, FRE min & Kira Doerrer, FRE min
2024 Olivia Dirla, FRE minor
2023 Anne Belizaire, FRE minor & 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 Meghan E. McGrath & Jo Mead
2018 Shelby Peltier & Pamela Dolcine
2017 Anthi Docous, FRE minor & Oyenika Ilaka, FRE minor

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Award

2025 Haley Bowman, SPN and Psych major & Leann Nicholas, SPN and Biochem/Mol Bio major

Maurice J. Westmoreland Award

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

2025 Madalina Man
2024 Sarah Rubio
2023 Nerisha Padilla Cruz
2022 Rocio Leguisamon
2021 Ethan Sims
2020 Amber Bradley
2019 Benjamin Mielenz

Excellence in Teaching by a Spanish TA Award

2025 Michelle Monaco
2024 Bianca Zazzarini-Leon
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

2025 Naomi Pugliese
2024 Brandon Foster-Bagley
2023 Kyle Karp
2022 Rachel Swald
2021 Trinity Hallenbeck
2020 William Rubin
2019 Gregory Horsefield
2018 Sam Spampinato

Excellence in German Award

2025 Rachel Orenstein
2024 Sofia Kolpynska
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

2025 Zaden Smith
2024 Gianni Coletta
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

2025 Luke Turner
2024 Kristian Powell
2023 Colin Mance
2022 John Healy
2021 Connor J McKenna
2020 Christopher Stewart
2019 Richard Wood
2018 Mia McDonough

Excellence in Portuguese Award

2025 Hunter Lass
2024 Leslie Lopez de la Rosa
2023 Wania Hermanstyne
2022 Valerie Goris
2021 Alexi Moro
2020 Alana Torres-Trinidad
2019 Jessica Rosas
2018 Mayara Oliveira

Excellence in Russian Award

2025 Julia Veal
2024 Alyssa Gould
2023 Vincent Carucci
2022 Leanna Weston
2021 Giuliana Crocco
2020 Kaya Rifenberg-Stempel
2019 Justin Healy
2018 Michael Jennings

Sigma Delta Pi Award

2019 Kaitlin Moen, SPN BA

The Mildred L. Schmidt Award

Awarded to a senior excelling in the study of Latin.

2014 Ariel Ross, Latin student

The Class of 1952 Award

Awarded to a junior or senior pursuing a career within languages, plans to incorporate languages in their future, or has studies multiple languages at UAlbany (rotates through multiple depts on campus).

2024 Bruce Pandya, Latin student
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

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

2025 Caroline Herbelin, Lecturer of French & Patrick Lawrence, Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish
2024 Dora Ramirez, Lecturer II of Spanish
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

Recent University Awards Recognizing Student Excellence

Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

2025 Mauricio Rodriguez, FRE minor
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 Arnaldo 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 (College of Arts & Sciences) - Commencement Ceremony

2013 Patrick E. Lawrence, SPN MA

Initiatives for Women

2024 Caitlin Fanning, SPN PhD student, Christine E. Bose and Edna Acosta-Belen Initiatives for Women Feminist Research Award
2022 Rocío Leguisamon, SPN PhD, Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers Fund Award
2022 Nerisha Padillla Cruz, SPN PhD, Initiatives for Women Endowment Award
2020 Marina Bonilla, SPN PhD, Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers Fund scholarship award
2018 Tara Feeney, SPN PhD, The Barlow Family 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

2025 Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado, SPN minor & Julie Hong, FRE minor
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

2025 Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado, SPN minor & Zyon Small, SPN minor
2023 Haley Bowman
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

2025 Haley Bowman, SPN major & Leann Nicholas, SPN major & Taina Stevens, SPN major & Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado, SPN minor & Mauricio Rodriguez, FRE minor
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

Innovation Funding Research Assistantships

2025 Arely Gonzalez Hernandez, SPN major & Hunter Lass, POR minor & Zyon Small, SPN minor & Natalie Specht, FRE minor

Endowed Undergraduate Research Awards

2025 Leann Nicholas, Spanish & Biochemistry/Molecular Biology double major, and Maurico Rodriguez, French minor;

Showcase Award

2025 Haley Bowman, SPN/PSYC double major & Kyra Kalinovsky, RUS minor
2023-People's Choice Award Ariana Ball, Yoaliz Bonilla, Tyra Echevarria, and Aaliyah Hussain

GETI Award

2025 Loraine Montero, SPN minor & Coumba Bah, FRE minor

Great Dane Award

2025 Jaden Gabb (SPN minor)

Robert W. Moyer Research Fund Award

2025 Leann Nicholas, SPN & Biochem and Mol Bio major

Social Justice Leadership Award

2025 Valeria Salinas

Terra Award for Students

2024 Olivia Dirla, FRE minor

Women’s Leadership Award

2025 Leann Nicholas

The Jonathan Whyte-Dixon Memorial Scholarship

2025 Zyon Small, SPN minor

University at Albany's Benevolent Association Research Grants

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

The Ada Craig Walker Award

2013 Laura Colaneri, SPN major

Spellman Achievement Awards

2025 Sadaf Ahmadi, SPN minor & Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado, SPN minor & Zyon Small, SPN minor & Taina Stevens & Sydney Davidson
2016 Oyenike Ilaka, FRE minor

Other Awards

Peter J. Murrett III Pro Bono Award (Upstate NY chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association)

2020 Michael Wilk (FRE BA 2007)

Société des professeurs français et francophones d’Amérique

2025 Natalie Specht, FRE Minor
2013 Krislin Cherian, BSN major and Stephanie Erev, FRE minors awarded $4000 scholarships.

Spanish Ministry of Education Cultural Ambassadors Award Program

2015 Taylor Grzywacz, SPN major

Spanish National Honorary Society Sigma Delta Pi Graduate Research Grant Award

2018 Benjamin Mielenz, SPN PhD student

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

College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Excellence through Diversity Award

2025 Carmen Serrano, Associate Professor, Hispanic and Italian Studies

College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching

2020 Carmen Serrano, Associate Professor, Hispanic and Italian 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

Terra Award

2024 Nyssa Knarvick, SPN MA
2019 Sara Zahler, Assistant Professor, Hispanic and Italian Studies

Torch Award

2025 Lotfi Sayahi, Professor, Hispanic and Italian Studies
2024 Dora Ramirez, Lecturer, Hispanic and Italian Studies

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

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

Dr. Stephanie Hassan Richardson Award

2025 Carmen Serrano, Associate Professor, Hispanic and Italian Studies

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