At the annual Prize Day ceremony in May, the College paid special tribute to the late Roland D. Ciaranello '65 with an Eliphalet Nott Medal for outstanding achievement in his career.
Ciaranello died on Dec. 15, 1994, and his parents accepted the medal from President Roger Hull.
Mrs. Ciaranello said her son “always found time to act as a mentor for students. Were he here today, he would encourage you to work very hard, always do your very best, and always help and encourage others along life's none-too-easy path.”
Ciaranello was internationally recognized for his work on the genetic bases for inherited forms of autism and for his work in child psychiatry, which blended molecular biology, biochemistry, and neuroscience to understand the disorders of the nervous system. At the time of his death he was the Nancy Friend Pritzker Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and chief of the Division of Child Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He was the leading candidate for the directorship of the National Institute of Mental Health.
“Roland cared deeply for troubled children and their families,” Mrs. Ciaranello said. “We know his work will be carried on by his colleagues and young people like you. We know he would be proud and pleased to
accept the Nott Medal from Union College, his alma mater.”
A number of students received recognition at Prize Day for their academic achievement, community and college service, and athletics. Altogether, more than 100 prizes were awarded. Some who received multiple awards were:
Amelia A. Audette '96, an English major from Ballston Lake, N.Y., received the Daniel F. Pullman Prize to a senior of high scholastic standing in humanities and the Women Senior Scholarly Activity Award.
Rebecca L. Barry '96, a history major from Andover, Mass., received the Women Senior Thesis Prize and the Freling H. Smith Prize for the best thesis in the Department of History.
Nicole A. Beland '96, an English major from Dracut, Mass., won the George H. Catlin Prize as the liberal arts senior with the highest scholastic record who is deemed most promising for graduate study and an eventual career in college teaching and shared the David Brind Memorial Prize as an outstanding student in English.
Erica M. DeCarlo '96, a mathematics major from Endwell, N.Y., won the Frank Bailey Prize for outstanding service to the College, the Martin Terry Resch Prize to the senior showing the greatest promise in the study of pure mathematics, and the Eugene W. Hellmich Mathematics Prize, given to students preparing for a career in teaching mathematics.
Margaret Furman '96, a history/biology major from South Orange, N.J., received the Hans Hainebach Memorial Prize in Judaica and the Dr. Reuben Sorkin Award for proficiency in premedical studies.
Jason T. Katz '96, a chemistry major from Reno, Nev., won the Robert M. Fuller Prize for outstanding work in chemistry with an unusual ability in original experimental work, and the Charles B. Hurd Prize, to a student in physical chemistry.
Monique G. Lin '97, a biology/ philosophy major from DeKalb, Ill., was awarded the Harold A. Larrabee Prize for the best work in philosophy and the Robert L. Royal Award to a student accepted by Albany Medical College.
Kevin Makarowski '97, a psychology major from Washington Mills, N.Y., received the Edward Everett Hale, Jr., Prize for the best essay written by a sophomore or junior and the William A. Pike Memorial Trophy for attitude, participation, and achievement in intercollegiate sports.
Brandon T. Press '96, a law and public policy major from West Nyack, N.Y., won the Horatio G. Warner Prize, given to a senior of high personal character with the highest scholastic standing in the B.A. program, and the Frank S. Higgins Prize to a senior planning to study law.
Jeffrey Weinstein '96, a chemistry major from Belle Harbor, N.Y., received the Stephen F. Leo, M.D., Prize, to the premedical student on scholarship with the highest grades, and the Esther Wisoff Prize, to a senior entering medical school who shows great promise.