Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities

Awarded by
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The Class of 1879 Prize is awarded by the Humanities & Arts department yearly for excellent work in the culminating project for the Humanities & Arts Requirement. These projects must demonstrate exceptional creativity and skill in conceiving, developing, and expressing a theme within any discipline in the humanities and arts.  

History of the Prize

WPI has recognized exemplary work in the humanities and arts since 1872, when the department of English and Modern Languages established an award for the best paper in composition classes. At its reunion in 1900, the Class of 1879 endowed this prize for a paper "on a topic of general interest." The endowment was continued by Spencer Miller 1879, who wanted “to encourage graduates of the Institute to develop the art of clear and lucid English in the discussion of engineering subjects.”  The Class of 1879 Prize was then awarded annually to the best term paper in the departments of English, History, and Languages until the adoption of the WPI Plan in 1970. In 1983, the department of Humanities & Arts began to award the Class of 1879 Prize to the best Humanities Requirement Projects.  

The Class of 1879 Prize has evolved alongside WPI.  Today’s prize-winning projects rarely concern engineering subjects, and some aren’t even traditional essays.  But we still honor the spirit of Mr. Miller’s prize, to encourage and reward the highest achievements of human expression. 

Details for each year's competition are announced in November/December, with a deadline for submission in January. For information on the competition and how to submit your project for consideration, please contact the HUA office at ext. 5246 or at huaweb@wpi.edu.

Note: Prizes awarded for projects completed the previous year.

Browse Award Recipients

Year Recipient Name Title Awarded by Type Department Details
2023 Nora Smith. Advisor: Joseph Aguilar Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Mechanical & Materials Engineering

Creative Arts:  "Burnout."

2023 Ben Kresge. Advisor: John Sanbonmatsu Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Computer Science

Scholarship:  "Having it Both Ways:  Can I be a Moral Omnivore?"

2023 Patrick J. Healey. Advisor: Kevin Lewis Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Mechanical & Materials Engineering

Creative Arts:  "P.J. Haus."

2023 Olivia Spielberger. Advisor: Roshanak Bigonah Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Biology & Biotechnology

Creative Arts:  "Visual Persuasion, Ocean Empathy."

2023 Xavier Morales. Advisor: Joseph Cullon Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Physics

Scholarship:  Systemic Racisn as an Environmetnal Detriment:  The Warren County Protests and Legacy of PCBs in America."

2023 Jillian Crandall. Advisor: Despoina Giapoudzi Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Biology & Biotechnology

Performing Arts:  “Directing is Like a FishBowl: A Project Portfolio.”   

 

 

2022 Benjamin Antupit Advisor: Laura Eckelman Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Shaping the Light of New Voices 39: A Practicum in Theatre Lighting Design”

2022 Juliette Spitael Advisor: Adryen Gonzales Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Prac in HUA: Advanced Contemporary Work,”

2022 Katelyn Quinn-Cyr Advisor: John Sanbonmatsu Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Understanding the True Relationship Between Women and Mental Illness”

2022 Kseniia Romanova Advisor: Adryen Gonzales Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"2D Design to 3D Sculpture" 

2022 Alden Johnson Advisor: Rebecca Moody Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Gender in Wrestling: A Breakdown Beyond the Takedown" 

2022 Clara Dublin Advisor: John Galante Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"From Entrance to Evacuation: The Development and Destruction of Japanese Immigrants’ Community Network in Seattle"

2021 Robbie Oleynick advisor: Laura Eckelman Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Scoring A Silent Sky"

2021 Kalina Bonofiglio advisor: Joe Aguilar Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Blue Sky Society"

2021 Alison Drapeau advisor: Lindsay Davis Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Proposing Universal Policy to De-Feminize Childcare"

2021 Paul A. Pacheco Jr. & Vanessa Van DeMark advisor: Kristin Boudreau Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Addressing the Gender Gap in STEM Education with Classroom Interventions"

2021 Sage Ortega-Shue advisor: Joseph Cullon Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"The Appropriation of Defensible Space"

2020 Cosette Domkofski Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Those Who Endure,” advisor: Joseph Aguilar

2020 Julia Milks Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Psychiatric Healthcare in Morocco,” advisor: Rebecca Moody

2020 Payton Bielawski Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Sheltered: A Look into the Connection Between Nature and Humankind,” advisor: Marie Keller

2020 Samuel Hopkins Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Development of Single-use Plastics in a Throwaway Culture,” advisor: Joseph Cullon

2020 Johanna Whitwell Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

'Evaluating the Influence of Italian Fascism on Brazilian Integralism and the Vargas Regime' advisor: John Galante

2020 Minh Anh Kieu Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Insiders, Outsiders, and In-Between: Asian Nonimmigrant Experience in the American Context of Intersectional Racism" advisor: Jennifer McWeeny

2019 Carla Duarte Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Saudade: A story of Identity,” advisor: Katharine McIntyre

2019 Petra Kumi Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Understanding the Effects of Highly Ideological Music in Thailand From a Structural and Sociocultural Perspective,” advisor: Carlos Odriz

2019 Kamryn Spinelli Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“The Jewish Exodus from Morocco: Gauging the Social Trauma,” advisor: Mohamed Brahimi

2019 Camryn Berry Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“16:91,” Advisor: Katharine McIntyre

2019 Jackson Powell Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“The impact of Government Intervention of Global Industry: A Case of China and the Solar Energy Industry,” advisor: John Galante

2019 Kristen Antunes Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Local Knowledge and Climate Adaptation,” advisor: William San Martin

2018 Eliot M. Fine Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Worcester: A Farewell Tour,” advisor: Joshua Harmon

2018 Harold Terry Hearst III Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

 “The Music of Mario Galaxy,” advisor:  Douglas Weeks

2018 Jared Grier Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Acquired Disability and Disruption of the Self,”  advisor: Jennifer McWeeny

2018 Neel Dhanaraj Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

 “An Analysis of the Potential Endangerment of Immigrants Due to Merit-Based Immigration,”  advisor: Jennifer McWeeny

 

2018 Jessica Hatt Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

 “The Drug that Shattered the Nuclear Family,”  advisor: Constance Clark

 

2018 Nde Nkimbeng Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“The Multiple Selves of the Oppressed,” advisor: Jennifer McWeeny

 

2018 Rosa Reynoso Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“The Muslim World in Transition—Rediscovering True Islam,”  advisor: W.A. Bland Addison

 

2017 Aviv Brest Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“An Ethical Framework for the Genetic Engineering of Animals,” advisor: John Sanbonmatsu

2017 Erin Morissette Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Acoustics of the Clarinet and Spaulding Recital Hall,” advisor:  Douglas Weeks

2017 Olivia Leavitt Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Repeat and Refrain:  Making A Renaissance Villancico Modern,” advisor: Douglas Weeks

2017 Nicole Mattson Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“For Every Hour:  Twenty-Four Prose Poems,” advisor: Joshua Harmon

2016 Reynaldo Duran Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Painting a Bridge Between Past and Future," advisor: W.A. Bland Addison and Kristin Boudreau

2016 Cody Slater Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"The Temporal Expression of Consciousness," advisor: Jennifer McWeeny

2016 Benjamin Huchley Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Online Avatars: An Expression of the User's Self," advisor: Jennifer McWeeny

2016 Alex Markoski Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"Greatest Influences for Being a Well-Rounded Musician," advisor: Douglas Weeks

2016 Eric Stolz Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

"One- and Two-State Peace Solutions in Israel," advisor: W.A. Bland Addison

2015 Kimberly Marrion Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Ethics, Dementia and Family: An Investigation into the Familial Issues that Arise with Dementia Patients,” major: Architectural Engineering, advisor: Bethel Eddy

2015 Paulo Carvalho Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Developing and Composing for a Robotic Organ,” major: Biomedical Engineering and Robotics Engineering, minor: Electrical and Computer Engineering, advisor: Scott Barton

2015 Katherine Picchione Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Pokomchi Pictorial Literacy,” major: Mechanical Engineering and Society, Technology, and Policy, advisor: Ryan Madan

2014 Jedediah Perron Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Going Out With A Bang: The American Supersonic Transport and the Environmental Movement” Major: Aerospace Engineering. Advisor: Thomas Robertson

2014 Charlotte Reames Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate

“Gender Roles in Morocco” Major: Biology and Biotechnology. Advisor: W. A. Bland Addison