Helen Caldwell Awards and Prizes

The Department of Classics is proud to acknowledge the generosity of Joan Palevsky (UCLA B.A. French, 1947) for establishing the Helen Caldwell Awards & Prizes in Classics (formerly, the Helen Caldwell Merit Scholarship) in appreciation of an inspiring teacher during her student days at UCLA.

Helen Florence Caldwell (UCLA B.A. Classics 1925; M.A. 1939) was a Senior Lecturer and beloved teacher of Latin and Greek in the Department of Classics for almost thirty years until her retirement in 1970. Her interests ranged from classical drama to modern Brazilian fiction.

The Helen Caldwell Award for Outstanding Major in the Department of Classics is awarded annually to the outstanding senior(s) graduating with a major in our Department.
The Helen Caldwell Award for Outstanding Minor in the Department of Classics is awarded annually to the outstanding senior(s) graduating with a minor in our Department.
The Helen Caldwell Prize in Elementary Greek is awarded annually to the enrolled undergraduate(s) who performs best in the first year of elementary Latin (Latin 1-3).
The Helen Caldwell Prize in Elementary Latin is awarded annually to the enrolled undergraduate(s) who performs best in the first year of elementary Greek (Greek 1-3).
The Joan Palevsky Award for Extraordinary Achievement is awarded in exceptional cases to a student who displays extraordinary achievement in the Department of Classics.

The Helen Caldwell Award for Outstanding Major

2023-2024
Kaitlyn Coons
Elizabeth Annie Galajyan

2022-2023
Gideon Burnes Heath
Zheng Wangyuan

2021-2022
Nicholas Guymon
Lingxuan Liu
Dido Erika Wang

Pictured from left to right: Nicholas Guymon (Latin) with Professor Kirkland, Lingxuan Liu (Classical Civilization) and Dido Erika Wang (Greek and Latin)

2020-2021
Alex Adame
Emily Liu
Olivia Shearin

Pictured from left to right: Alex Adame (Classical Civilization), Emily Liu (Classical Civilization) and Olivia Shearin (Classical Civilization)

2019-2020
Sarah Brauer

2018-2019
Mary Anastasi
Megan Haddad

Mary Anastasi (Greek and Latin), Professor Alex Purves, Megan Haddad (Classical Civilization), and Professor Bob Gurval.

2017-2018
Daniel Golde
Morgan Schneer
Rebekah Smith

Daniel Golde (Greek and Latin), Professor Amy Richlin, Morgan Schneer (Classical Civilization), and Kathryn Morgan. Not picture: Rebekah Smith.

2016-2017
Emily Bowyer
Hayley Makinster

Professor David Blank, Emily Bowyer (Classical Civilization), Hayley Makinster (Classical Civilization), and Professor John Papadopoulos.

2015-2016
Chrysanthe Pantages
Jessica Rea

Professor Kathryn Morgan, Chrysanthe Pantages (Classical Civilization), Jessica Rea (Classical Civilization and Biology), and Professor Robert Gurval.

2014-2015
Sydney Pauline Schueller
Kathrine Ann Takakjian

Sydney Schueller (Classical Civilization), left, and Katherine Takakjian (Classical Civilization), right, with Professor Chris Johanson.

2013-2014
Sarah Lynn Bishop
Stephen James Milburn

Professor Alex Purves, Stephen Milburn (Classical Civilization), Sarah Bishop (Greek and Latin), and Professor Robert Gurval.

2012-2013
Eric Lakin
Erika Schulz

Left, Erika Schulz with Professor David Blank; right, Professor Chris Johanson with Eric Lakin.

2011-2012
Molly Dora Horne
Maryanne Mendoza

The winners of the Helen Caldwell Outstanding Major and Minor Awards 2011-2012. From left to right: Anthony Vincent Rettenmaier (Minor), Professor Mario Telo, Molly Dora Horne (Major), Professor Robert Gurval, Amanda M. Schafenacker (Minor), Professor Chris Johanson, Maryanne Mendoza, and Professor Sander Goldberg.

2010-2011
Sergio Arguello
Danielle Awad
Blake Livesay

The winners of the Helen Caldwell Outstanding Major and Minor Awards, 2010-2011. From left to right: Brian Bauman, Professor Shane Butler, Jacqueline Pearlstein, Professor David Blank, Sergio Arguello (Major), Professor John Papadopoulos, Danielle Awad (Major), Professor Sarah Morris, Blake Livesay (Major), and Professor Mario Telo.

2009-2010
Emily M. Beugelmans
Mara M. Kutter

The winners of the Helen Caldwell Outstanding Major and Minor and the Joan Palevsky Extraordinary Achievement Awards, 2009-2010. From left to right: Professor Robert Gurval, Julianna Pazos (Joan Palevsky Extraordinary Achievement Award), Mara Kutter (Major), Emily Beugelmans (Major), Professor David Blanks, Kelly Quinn (Minor), Professor Alex Purves.

2008-2009
Joe A. Khodari
Young Na Park

2007-2008
Elizabeth Crofton-Sleigh
Sarah Elizabeth Hanley

2006-2007
Adam Jared Trott
Elizabeth Anne Wueste

2005-2006
Rachel Allyse Billstrom
Mary Caitlin Unkovic

2004-2005
Brian Joseph Cassmassi
Jenna Colleen Sutton

2003-2004
Bethany Allison Ayres
Stephen Paul Chua
Jordan Marie Ray
Dimitirios Panagiotis Sotiriou

2002-2003
Dante Apollo Atkins
David Orestes Atkins
Tim Lewis Greenfield

2001-2002
Stephanie Renee Simms
Hilary Hammond Smith

The Helen Caldwell Award for Outstanding Minor

2023-2024
Khushi Bhatt
Margaret Bảo-Khanh Pham

2022-2023
Catherine Liliana Jones
Alexia Andrikopoulos

2021-2022
Alice Georgie McKeon

2020-2021
Shanahan Europa
Maddie Gutierrez
Kelli Woodward

2019-2020
Jessey Bryan
Talia Isayan
Claire Magnuson

From Left to Right: Jessey Bryan (Classical Civilization), Talia Isayan (Classical Civilization), and Claire Magnuson (Classical Civilization).

2018-2019
Katie Griffin
Karen Fulbright-Hightower

Katie Griffin (Classical Civilization), Professor Bob Gurval, Karen Fulbright-Hightower (Classical Civilization) and Professor Bob Gurval.

2017-2018
Kayla Beckman
Michael Glidewell

Kayla Beckman (Latin), Professor Amy Richlin, Professor Christopher Johanson, and Michael Glidewell (Classical Civilization).

2016-2017
James Richardson
Haoxing Liu

Professor John Papadopoulos, Haoxing Liu (Classical Civilization), James Richardson (Classical Civilization), and Professor Robert Gurval.

2015-2016
Victoria Lee
Adrienne Ou

Professor Kathryn Morgan, Victoria Lee (Classical Civilization), Professor Alex Lessie, Adrienne Ou (Classical Civilization), and Professor Robert Gurval.

2014-2015
Shayna Rachel Greenberg
Roxana Tabrizi

Shayna Greenberg (Latin), left, and Roxana Tabrizi (Classical Civilization), right, with Professor Kathy McDonnell.

2013-2014
Faye Mendoza
Carmella Louisa Passero

Faye Mendoza with Professor David Blank.

2012-2013
Harish Dharmarajan
Lucas Tejwani

2011-2012
Anthony Vincent Rettenmaier
Amanda M. Schafenacker

2010-11
Alan Yi Chung

2009-2010
Kelly D. Quinn

2008-2009
Jennifer P. Suberlak

2007-2008
Stephanie Colvin
Deepinder K. Ginder

2006-2007
Jee Hoon Song

2005-2006
Casey Andrew
Jacob Lincoln Tracer

2004-2005
Cathrine Elizabeth Besancon
Seunggu Jude Han

2003-2004
Dormain Geyer

2002-2003
Mark Andrew Flowers
Jason Brent Holland
Anne Robinson Job

2001-2002
Steven Ryan Reeder

The Helen Caldwell Prize in Elementary Greek

2023-2024
Jingtong Lin

2022-2023
Jack Cloud

2021-2022
Lilly Morrison-Jaime

2020-2021
Gideon Burnes Heath

2019-2020
Nicholas Guymon

2018-2019
Edward Geng

TA Silvio Curtis, Edward Geng, and Professor Richard Ellis

2017-2018
Amanda Leutmixay

Amanda Leutmixay, and TA John Tennant

2016-2017
Daniel Golde

Professor Amy Richlin, Daniel Golde, and TA Anastasia Baran

2015-2016
Clare Dunnegan

TA Caitlin Halasz, Clare Dunnegan, and Professor Alex Lessie.

2014-2015
Sydney Pauline Schueller

TA Bill McCrary with Sydney Schueller.

2013-2014
Jonathan Ryan Miller

Helen Caldwell Prize for Elementary Greek and Latin winners, 2013-2014.

2012-2013
Stephen Milburn

2011-2012
Julianne Cheng

Julianne Cheng with TA Craig Russell and Professor Robert Gurval.

2010-2011
Erik Arrieta
Chelsea Brown

Helen Caldwell Prize for Elementary Greek and Latin Winners, 2010-2011.

2009-2010
Taryn Gergory

Taryn Gregory receives the Helen Caldwell Prize in Elementary Greek from Professor Alex Purves.

2008-2009
Timothy David Kercheville

2007-2008
Paula Mihaela Matei

2006-2007
Lauren Elizabeth Mayfield

2005-2006
Jeremy Michael Dille

2004-2005
Brian Joseph Cassmassi

2003-2004
Kevin Andrew Poulos

2002-2003
Bethany Allison Ayres
Jennifer E. Dial

2001-2002
Kimberly Ann Jensen
Patrick Jones

The Helen Caldwell Prize in Elementary Latin

2023-2024
Lauren Chao
Levi Wold

2022-2023
Cole Biesemeyer

2021-2022
Khushi Bhatt
Kaitlyn Coons

2020-2021
Amay Jain

2019-2020
Helen Ng
Dido Wang

2018-2019
Lauren August
Abigail Chapman

Lauren August and Lecturer Sam Beckelhymer. TA Andre Matlock (Not pictured Abigail Chapman).

2017-2018
Nathan Lovejoy
Cameron Gordon

Nathan Lovejoy, Lecturer Sam Beckelhymer, and Cameron Gordon

2016-2017
Emily Bowyer
Mary Anastasi

TA Nathan Kish, Emily Bowyer, Mary Anastasi, and TA Benjamin Niedzielski

2015-2016
Kayla Beckman
Adam Wolf

Professor Justin Haynes, Adam Wolf, Kayla Beckman, and Professor Alex Lessie.

2014-2015
Charles Gao
Lise Soly

Lise Soly with TA Hannah Thomson.

2013-2014
Liam Cruz Kelly
Haley Hrncir

TA Hans Bork, TA Ashleigh Fata, Haley Hrncir, Liam Cruz Kelly, and TA Bill McCrary.

2012-2013
Austin “Sy” Clark
Qianchao “Victoria” Tan

2011-2012
Julienne Cheng
Shayna Greenberg

TA Craig Russell, Julianne Cheng (Greek and Latin), TA Caitlin Halasz, Professor Robert Gurval, Shayna Greenberg (Latin), TA Justin Vorhis, and TA Grace Gillies.

2010-2011
Erika Schulz
Christina Tucker