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Junior and Senior Awards Spring 2026
The department was proud to honor several students with awards in recognition of their excellence in and beyond the classroom.
SCS Award for Excellent in Ancient History: Anna Gilespie ‘26
Anna is a double major in Classical Studies (with a concentration in Ancient Mediterranean Culture & History) and Environment & Sustainability. She conducted summer research on how the understanding of ancestry and status affected the treatment of historical figures in Tacitus. She's excited to shift her focus to identities and politics in ancient Greece for her capstone paper. She loved seeing historical sites in person during the Classics Department's study abroad in Rome/Pompeii with Professor Paga. She also took every Classical Studies class she could cram into her schedule, since her 
favorite part of Classical Studies is every part of the history and culture.
Hogan Award for Excellence in Greek and Latin: Keara Dean, ’26, JDP
Keara is Classical Studies major in the Joint Degree Program with a concentration in Greek and Latin. Under the direction of Professor Irby, she is writing an honors thesis about nature and ekphrasis in Vergil’s Eclogues. She writes "I have greatly appreciated my time at both St. Andrews and 91心頭利 and has deepened my knowledge of ancient literature." In the future, she plans to attend graduate school to continue her studies in the field of Classics.
Eta Sigma Phi Award for Excellence in Latin: Katy Lenshin ‘26
Katy is a double major in Data Science and Classical Studies with a Latin concentration. She writes “I’ve deeply enjoyed the varied opportunities for learning about Classical Studies. I've spent time translating Latin on my own, but I've also spent lots of time engaged in class discussions with my peers about our studies and I've even spent some time in Rome learning about the discipline up-close and personal!”
Classical Journal Award for Service: Andrew Francois '26
Andrew is a Classical Studies major with a concentration in Latin. He has been a mainstay of the department for many years and is one of our two Ancient Languages Fellows for Spring. He writes: "As a Latin major, I feel especially privileged, looking back on my four years in the program, to have enjoyed the profound depth and breadth of our field, from the study of Greek and Latin to art history; from wandering across the ruins of Campania and Rome to Greek tragedy back in the classroom. A
particular highlight has been completing my honors thesis on Caesar’s Republican posturing in the Bellum Civile with Professor Stephens, who has constantly challenged me to think ever more keenly on the nuances of the Latin language. After a few years of work and travel, I hope to pursue graduate studies in Classical philology."
CAMWS Award for Excellence in Latin: Hollis Martin, ’26
Hollis is a Classical Studies major with a concentration in Latin. He studied abroad in Rome his junior year, a highlight of his college experience, and plans to enroll for a MA in Classics in the Fall at the University of Chicago. He is a member of the Liber Memorialis Project working with Professor Swetnam-Burland, where he is working on adapting the text for high school and middle school students. He is presently serving as one of two Ancient Language Fellow for Spring term.
Selby Corey Award for an Accomplished Junior: Ben McClarty '27, JDP
Ben is a junior in the St A / W&M Joint Degree Program, with a concentration in Greek and Latin. He has distinguished himself in and beyond the classroom. He is a founding member of the Liber Memorialis Project, where he has served as translator, Latin editor, and is a collaborator on a paper with Professor Swetnam-Burland exploring the section of the text that treats the miracula of the ancient world. He has presented a paper in a regular session of the SCS, and will use the award to augment his summer research on his thesis (working title: ‘Two Syrians at the Crossroads: sociocultural dynamics and linguistic experimentation in Lucian and Julia Balbilla").