Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities
The Class of 1879 Prize is awarded by the Humanities & Arts department yearly for excellent work in the culminating project for the Humanities & Arts Requirement. These projects must demonstrate exceptional creativity and skill in conceiving, developing, and expressing a theme within any discipline in the humanities and arts.
History of the Prize
WPI has recognized exemplary work in the humanities and arts since 1872, when the department of English and Modern Languages established an award for the best paper in composition classes. At its reunion in 1900, the Class of 1879 endowed this prize for a paper "on a topic of general interest." The endowment was continued by Spencer Miller 1879, who wanted “to encourage graduates of the Institute to develop the art of clear and lucid English in the discussion of engineering subjects.” The Class of 1879 Prize was then awarded annually to the best term paper in the departments of English, History, and Languages until the adoption of the WPI Plan in 1970. In 1983, the department of Humanities & Arts began to award the Class of 1879 Prize to the best Humanities Requirement Projects.
The Class of 1879 Prize has evolved alongside WPI. Today’s prize-winning projects rarely concern engineering subjects, and some aren’t even traditional essays. But we still honor the spirit of Mr. Miller’s prize, to encourage and reward the highest achievements of human expression.
Details for each year's competition are announced in November/December, with a deadline for submission in January. For information on the competition and how to submit your project for consideration, please contact the HUA office at ext. 5246 or at huaweb@wpi.edu.
Note: Prizes awarded for projects completed the previous year.
Browse Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Name | Title | Awarded by | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Aviv Brest | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “An Ethical Framework for the Genetic Engineering of Animals,” advisor: John Sanbonmatsu |
| 2014 | Bohao Li | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Lee Teng-hui and a New Taiwanese Nationalism” Major: Computer Science. Advisor: Jennifer Rudolph |
| 1996 | Greg Amiro | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Rock n' Roll Renaissance," advisor: Douglas G. Weeks |
| 2019 | Carla Duarte | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Saudade: A story of Identity,” advisor: Katharine McIntyre |
| 1991 | Stephen T. Kapushoc | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Knowledge and Vision of Loren Eiseley" |
| 2007 | Lucas Samuel Lincoln | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “An Analysis of Pat Metheny as a Jazz Composer,” advisor Richard Falco |
| 1986 | Nancy Teasdale | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "I Don't Have to Cry for the Rest of My Life," advisor: Susan Vick |
| 2001 | Brendan Morris | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Rastro: The Essence of Madrid," advisor: Lee Fontanella |
| 2017 | Erin Morissette | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Acoustics of the Clarinet and Spaulding Recital Hall,” advisor: Douglas Weeks |
| 1996 | Andrea Kodys | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Promises, Policies and Goals: The U.S. Occupation of Haiti, 1915-1934," advisor: James Watters |
| 1996 | Mickey Lacroix | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "A Critique of Husserlian Phenomenology," advisor: Bettina Bergo |
| 2019 | Petra Kumi | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Understanding the Effects of Highly Ideological Music in Thailand From a Structural and Sociocultural Perspective,” advisor: Carlos Odriz |
| 1990 | Athena Demetry | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Individual in Israeli and Palestinian Literature" |
| 2022 | Benjamin Antupit Advisor: Laura Eckelman | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Shaping the Light of New Voices 39: A Practicum in Theatre Lighting Design” |
| 2006 | Benjamin W. Dwyer | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Spirits of the Dead: a Musical Composition," advisor: Richard Falco |
| 1985 | Jeanne M. Benjamin | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Pet-Facilitated Therapy for the Elderly" |
| 2001 | Jennifer Persico | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Jump From Resentment to Revolution," advisor: Deborah Gray |
| 2012 | Christopher Bannon | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Transgenic Animals and the Catholic Church”, Advisor: Bethel Eddy |
| 1995 | John D. Kedziora | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Failure of Command," advisor: James E. Watters |
| 2019 | Kamryn Spinelli | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “The Jewish Exodus from Morocco: Gauging the Social Trauma,” advisor: Mohamed Brahimi |
| 2009 | Sarah Albrecht | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Motives for Change: Signac's Stylistic Shift," advisor: D. Samson |
| 1990 | Bernard L. Dion | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Risk of Slavery: Warning Through Structure in 'Benito Cereno'" |
| 2022 | Juliette Spitael Advisor: Adryen Gonzales | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Prac in HUA: Advanced Contemporary Work,” |
| 2006 | Amanda J. Tarbet | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Multimodal Tensions in the Graphic Novel," advisor: Ruth Smith |
| 1985 | Charles Champagne | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Konrad Adenauer Erster Kanzler der Bundesrepublik," and "Ahnlichkeiten zwichen der Franzozischen Revolution und der Deutschen Revolution von 1848" |
| 2001 | Lauren Wojtkun | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Like the World of Dreams Itself': An Analysis of William Shakespeare's Use of the Green World in A Midsummer Night's Dream and As You Like It," advisor: Michelle Ephraim |
| 2012 | Xiuping Chen | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Origins and Characteristics of Chinese Cyber Nationalism”, Advisor: Jennifer Rudolph |
| 1995 | Patricia L. Panlillo | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Toni Morrison's Women: Strengths and Variations," advisor: Laura J. Menides |
| 2009 | Jeffrey Marrion | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Philosophy and Film: Existentialism and Place," advisor: J. Sanbonmatsu |
| 1990 | John A. MacNeill | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Tellurian Suite for Synthesizers, Clarinet and Flute" |
| 2022 | Katelyn Quinn-Cyr Advisor: John Sanbonmatsu | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Understanding the True Relationship Between Women and Mental Illness” |
| 2006 | Eric G. Wilusz | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Competing Visions for Technical Education: the Founding of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Worcester Polytechnic Institute," advisor: David Spanagel |
| 1985 | Rita Patel | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Light Burning in the Heart: A Comparative Analysis of the Concepts of the Soul in Hinduism, Plato, and Aristotle" |
| 2000 | Florentin Groeli | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "British Jazz, or Jazz in Britain?," advisor: Douglas G. Weeks |
| 2018 | Jared Grier | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Acquired Disability and Disruption of the Self,” advisor: Jennifer McWeeny |
| 2012 | Justin Rice | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “Modernization in the Western Himalayas: Himachal Pradesh and the Apple Industry”, Advisor: Thomas Robertson |
| 1995 | Nancy L. Round | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Origins of Violent Behavior: A Look at Behavior Genetics, Modern Biology, Serotonin, and the Ethics Involving Criminals," advisor: Thomas A. Shannon |
| 2009 | Michael Szkutak | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Presidential Electioneering in the Television Age," advisor: J. Hanlan |
| 1990 | Joseph M. Sabatini | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Machine Gun as a Reflection of America Industry" |
| 2005 | Charles A. Gammal III | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "John Boynton: Farmer to Founder," advisor: David Rawson |
| 1984 | Barbara Jean Gray | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Development of American Blackfaced Minstrelsy" |
| 2000 | Janaki Kirloskar | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "A Glimpse of Reality in the Hindu Temple," advisor: Ruth Smith |
| 2018 | Neel Dhanaraj | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “An Analysis of the Potential Endangerment of Immigrants Due to Merit-Based Immigration,” advisor: Jennifer McWeeny |
| 1994 | Karl F. Dicker | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "A Comprehensive History of Black Baseball," advisor: Deborah Gray |
| 1989 | Jeffrey L. Quirke | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Tragedy and the Gothic," advisor: Kent P. Ljungquist |
| 2005 | Karim G. Makram | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Breaking Out," advisor: Lorraine Higgins |
| 1984 | Walter F. Precourt, III | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Henry V: Shakespeare's Ideal King" |
| 2000 | Emily Reynolds | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "Becoming a Woman: A Look at the Influences of Patriarchy, Materialism and Relationships in The Great Gatsby and The Color Purple," advisor: Lisa Lebduska |
| 2018 | Jessica Hatt | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | “The Drug that Shattered the Nuclear Family,” advisor: Constance Clark |
| 1994 | Shaun P. Heaney | Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities | Winner | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Undergraduate | "The Construction of New Union Station: A Product of Worcester's Grade Crossing Problem," advisor: James P. Watters |