Colby College Honors 100+ Students at Awards Celebration

The big tent on Colby Green buzzed with excitement as over 100 students prepared to receive recognition for transforming their campus community through scholarship, creativity, and service.

At the 18th annual Colby Student Awards on May 5, students from 31 academic departments walked forward to receive named awards while their peers erupted in applause and cheers. A jazz duo provided the soundtrack to an afternoon celebrating real achievement and genuine community connection.

"I'm humbled and inspired every year by the incredible things that our students accomplish every single day," said Dean of the College Gustavo Burkett. The feeling was mutual: students later voted to present him with the Colby Service Award for his impact on campus after just three years.

Several students earned recognition from multiple departments. Pedro Alves Silva Dos Santos '26 won both the Marston Morse Prize in Mathematics and the Senior Prize in Physics and Astronomy, while Sophie Shanae Gould Dulabaum '26 received awards in both music and biology.

The celebration extended beyond academics. The college announced national award winners including Ines Benjelloun '26, who won the prestigious Watson Fellowship, and Daniel Juzych '26, named a Rhodes Scholar.

Why This Inspires

The ceremony revealed something powerful about community. Students didn't know which specific award they'd receive until their name was called, creating moments of genuine surprise and joy.

When President David A. Greene announced Kathryn "Lainie" Stone '26 as the senior class speaker, her classmates rose to their feet in thunderous applause. Stone, an earth science major who developed curriculum for Alaska Native students and organized TEDx Colby College, had been chosen by her peers to address them at commencement.

The most moving moment came when students elected 78 of their classmates to Phi Beta Kappa, America's oldest academic honor society. Twelve were juniors, showing that excellence starts early and grows through supportive relationships.

Professor Nikky Singh captured the spirit perfectly: "It's such a lovely gathering to see our seniors and others getting all these awards. It makes my heart warm."

The ceremony ended with the Colby Eight a cappella group singing the alma mater as the crowd sat in quiet appreciation, letting the music fill the tent with hope for what these students will accomplish next.