Senior Prize

Samuel Guarnaccia ’30, MA’36 Senior Prize

Awarded annually, the Guarnaccia Prize recognizes an outstanding graduating senior majoring in Spanish.

The prize was created to honor the memory of Samuel Guarnaccia ’30, MA Spanish ’36, professor of Spanish from 1940 to 1968 and director of the School of Spanish.

The original initiative and funding for the prize came from one of Guarnaccia’s former students, Lee Farnham ’60. Other significant donors who have contributed to the award include Nora Wright ’62 and Judy Roesset ’62. In 2015 it became an endowed prize recognized by the College and announced at the College senior awards ceremony.

The award aims to showcase the work of students who pursue a major in Spanish. In order to be eligible for the award, students must be nominated by a member of the Luso-Hispanic Studies Department faculty. Each nominee then submits what they consider their best piece of academic or creative writing, multimedia work, and/or collaborative projects utilizing the Spanish language. The Guarnaccia jury, composed of professors of the Luso-Hispanic Studies Department, evaluates student merits and the work submitted, taking into account the department’s mission and learning objectives. The jury awards one first prize in the amount of $1,200. The winner is announced and celebrated during the seniors’ reception held by the Luso-Hispanic Studies Department at the end of the academic year.

Student Work

The 2023 Samuel Guarnaccia ’30, MA’36 Senior Prize was awarded to Kenta Togo ’23. 

The $1,500 prize is awarded annually to an outstanding graduating senior majoring in Spanish.

¡Felicidades Kenta!

The 2023 Parkerian Award was awarded to Jasper Panger ’23.

The $1000 award was established in 2008 with proceeds from a gift given to the College in 1822 by Mr. Daniel Parker Esq. and Professor Frederick Hall. It is awarded to a graduating senior for excellence in speaking a language taught at Middlebury.

Parabéns Jasper!

Seven people standing in front of a school in Guatemala
Students in Professor Baird’s Mayan Language Revitalization class traveled to Nahualá, Guatemala and collaborated with locals in promoting the use of Mayan languages via visits to local elementary schools and the production of a national radio broadcast with Nawal Estereo. The initiative, led by native speakers of the Mayan language K’iche’, focuses on dispelling polemic myths about bilingualism by using research in linguistics, education, psychology, and neuroscience to show that promoting both languages among bilinguals does not confuse speakers but actually promoters higher attainment in both K’iche’ and Spanish.