ARTS

A Note from Judith Hamera Chair, Lewis Center for the Arts

Welcome to the Berlind Theatre in the McCarter Theatre Center, where we gather with family, friends, and members of the Lewis Center for the Arts community to celebrate a milestone in the lives of our student artists. Every Class Day is the culmination of both the usual demands of an undergraduate career at Princeton – the challenges, achievements, resilience, and resourcefulness – and those unique to each specific class. Our LCA Class of ’23 has shown us what it means to think deeply about, and creatively negotiate, art making in radically different contexts: from a global pandemic to its long, waning aftermath. You’ve pressed us to become a more genuinely welcoming place, and you’ve surprised us, challenged us, and partnered with us in so many wonderful ways. On behalf of the LCA faculty and staff, hearty congratulations to you. We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next!

Land Acknowledgement

The Lewis Center for the Arts is working to create a living land acknowledgement, one that is embodied in its consideration of—and engagement with—the past, present, and future. As we continue this work, we acknowledge that this building sits on land considered part of the ancient homelands of the Lenni-Lenape peoples and that this campus was built on this land with no recorded consultation with the Lenni-Lenape peoples. We acknowledge that learning about history and making this statement isn’t enough. Equally important is our ongoing work to understand past harms; build awareness in present relationships and actions; and bring imagination, creative problem-solving, and community-building to the future of our programs. We are taking actions towards these goals within our curriculum, pedagogy, and programming. We invite you to learn more about the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Princeton: indigenous.princeton.edu.

Princeton University’s LEWIS CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM IN CREATIVE WRITING

Congratulations Class of 2023 Certificate Students!

Priyanka Aiyer, Abigail Anthony, Beatrix Bondor, Ngan Chiem, Allen Delgado, Noa Greenspan, Yunxia Hallowell, Chaya Holch, Mel Hornyak, Sheherzad Jamal, Cassandra James, Danielle Jenkins, Conner Kim, Sophie Lockwood, Alexis Maze, Luca Morante, Nimrah Naseer, Megan Pan, Magdalena Poost, Mina Quesen, Grey Raber, Oyinkansola Sangoyomi, Meera Sastry, Ashira Shirali, Hana Widerman

Senior Awards

The Theodore Weiss Award

This award was established in 2004 in memory of Professor Weiss, distinguished poet, founder and editor of the Quarterly Review of Literature, and Professor of English and Creative Writing. Presented annually to a promising young poet or, in exceptional circumstances, a fiction writer.

Sheherzad Jamal

The Theodore H. Holmes ’51 and Bernice Holmes Poetry Prize

Established as part of a charitable trust created in 1999 by Bernice Holmes, this prize is in memory of her brother Theodore H. Holmes ’51. Presented each year to a single talented poet who is also an undergraduate student of Princeton University.

Priyanka Aiyer

Outstanding Work by a Senior Award

This award was created to honor one or more outstanding seniors for distinctive achievement in Creative Writing.

Shelby Kinch

Ashira Shirali

Samuel Shellabarger Memorial Prize in Creative Writing

This fund is awarded annually to a senior who, in fulfillment of the senior thesis requirement, shows great promise of future literary excellence.

Noa Greenspan

Princeton University’s LEWIS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Princeton University’s LEWIS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Joyce Carol Oates Award

This prize was established in 2014 in the name of Joyce Carol Oates, Roger S. Berlind ’52 Professor in the Humanities, Emeritus; Professor of Creative Writing, Emeritus. The prize is awarded annually to a promising young fiction writer or, in exceptional circumstances, a poet.

Ngan Chiem

Mel Hornyak

James Richardson Award

This prize was established in 2023 and is awarded annually to a student whose poetry speaks to Professor James Richardson’s work and to the spirit of his legendary course entitled “Life Is Short, Art is Really Short.”

Hana Widerman

Edmund Keeley Literary Translation Award

This prize was established in 2016 in the name of Edmund Keeley, Charles Barnwell Straut Class of 1923 Professor of English, Emeritus, Professor of English and Creative Writing, Emeritus. The prize is awarded to a promising young translator.

Megan Pan

Program In Dance

Congratulations Class of 2023 Certificate Students!

Naomi Benenson, Becca Berman, Leah Emanuel, Jonathan Golden, Kyle Ikuma, Gianni Pacheco, Anastasia Poverin, Amanda Gabrielle Roxas-Chua Qua, Heather Samberg, Lucy Ann Sirrs, Camryn Stafford, Emma Wang

Senior Awards

Francis LeMoyne Page Class of 1922 Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative Arts

This award was established in 1972 by the Trustees of the LeMoyne Page Foundation in memory of Francis LeMoyne Page, Class of 1922. Awarded annually to one or more members of the junior or senior class to honor distinctive achievement in the Creative Arts.

Naomi Benenson, Leah Emanuel, Jonathan Golden, Gianni Pacheco

Outstanding Senior Creative Thesis Award

This award was created to honor one or more outstanding seniors for distinctive achievement in Dance.

Becca Berman

Camryn Stafford

Sustained Community Achievement Award

Lucy Ann Sirrs

Emma Wang

PROGRAM IN THEATER

Congratulations Class of 2023 Certificate Students!

Eliyana Abraham, Julien Alam, Anna Allport, Kaelani Burja, Sarah Grinalds, Katie Hameetman, Mel Hornyak, Cassandra James, Jenni Lawson, Gaea Lawton, Elliot Lee, Reed Leventis, Alexis Maze, Regan McCall, Aliha Mughal, Asher Muldoon, Emily Murray, Megan Pan, Rosemary Paulson, Magdalena Poost, Angelica Qin, Kate Short

Program In Music Theater

Congratulations Class of 2023 Certificate Students!

Eliyana Abraham, Kaelani Burja, Julia Elman, Cassandra James, Jenni Lawson, Gaea Lawton, Elliot Lee, Halle Mitchell, Asher Muldoon, Kate Short, Matthew Weatherhead

Senior Awards

Award for creative and community leadership in Theater and Music Theater Program

Kaelani Burja

Magdalena Poost

Francis LeMoyne Page Class of 1922 Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative Arts

This award was established in 1972 by the Trustees of the LeMoyne Page Foundation in memory of Francis LeMoyne Page, Class of 1922. Awarded annually to one or more members of the junior or senior class to honor distinctive achievement in the Creative Arts.

Mel Hornyak

Elliot Lee

Most Exciting Newcomer Award

This award was established in 2022 to honor a graduating senior who discovered theater later in their college career, and whose passion, talents and enthusiasm for theater crafts have energized our community and enhanced our theater making season.

Sarah Grinalds

Emily Murray