awards

Each year, seniors in the College are invited to nominate a high school teacher for consideration for the Singer Family Prize. The four award winners receive a plaque and $3,000, as well as $2,500 for their school.

The eighth annual Best Translated Book Awards were announced at BookExpo America on Wednesday, May 27, with Chinese author Can Xue’s The Last Lover taking home the award for fiction, and Spanish poet Rocío Cerón’s Diorama winning for poetry.

Laura Ballou, assistant dean of sophomores and director of Wilson Commons, is the inaugural recipient of the Distinguished Contributions to Undergraduate Learning Award. The new award has been established to honor a staff member in Arts, Sciences & Engineering who has made a significant difference in the educational experience of students.

The fellowship, which is part of a federally sponsored program, provides up to three years of graduate study support for students pursing doctoral or research-based master’s degrees.

Michael Neidig, an assistant professor of chemistry, has been recognized as a “rising star” by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Neidig is one of 126 U.S. and Canadian researchers selected as recipients of Sloan Research Fellowships for 2015.

The National Science Foundation has granted its most prestigious award in support of junior faculty, the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program, to three University researchers: Antonio Badolato, Danielle Benoit, and Michael Neidig.

The Kindrick-CARA Award is presented annually to a member of the organization for their leadership in developing, organizing, and sponsoring work in medieval studies. Peck has been a faculty member at the University for 54 years, during which time he has received numerous commendations.

O'Dette, professor of lute, won for Best Opera Recording, and Ludwig, alumnus and mastering engineer, took home three Grammys: Best Surround Sound Album, for his work on Beyoncé; Best Engineered Album Non-Classical, for Beck’s Morning Phase; and Album of the Year.

Linda Chaudron, professor of psychiatry, of obstetrics and gynecology, and of pediatrics and senior associate dean for diversity at the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, will receive this year’s Susan B. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as a champion of women in science and medicine.

The Eastman Pathways Program and Kristin Hocker, an organizational development specialist with Human Resources, were honored as the University’s 2015 Presidential Diversity Award recipients.