Eight seniors receive Ivy awards

Eight students chosen by their peers as the outstanding members of the Class of 1996 were notified of their selection for Ivy awards yesterday. The winners of the Spoon, Bowl, Cane and Spade Awards for men and the Hottel, Harnwell, Goddard and Brownlee Awards for women were chosen in voting last week. The nominees, originally numbering 120, were narrowed down to groups of 15 males and 15 females earlier in the year by a committee of faculty, students and staff. The awards are among the oldest and most prestigious at the University, with the Spoon Award dating back to 1862. The winners will be recognized for their achievements at the University's annual Ivy Day ceremony on Saturday, May 18. The eight honorees represented a diverse array of campus groups including Greek organizations, student government, service organizations and the performing arts community. Four-year Class of 1996 President Lenny Chang, a Wharton senior, said he "felt great" upon learning that he would receive this year's Spoon Award, the highest award given to a male senior. "It is a wonderful to know that my peers support me," Chang said. "I really hope that a lot of seniors come to the Ivy Day ceremony." Wharton senior Gil Beverly, former vice chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly and Spring Fling director for the past three years, said he was excited to be the recipient of this year's Bowl Award. "This award is really cool because it is great to be acknowledged by your peers," Beverly said. "It is a great sign of respect, and even a little thank you, which you don't often get." College senior Tamara Dubowitz, coordinator of the Community Health Initiative and a West Philadelphia Improvement Corps volunteer, was happy to have garnered the top female award, the Hottel Award. "It is nice to be recognized for all those nights that I only got two hours of sleep," Dubowitz said. "Hopefully, I can look back on my undergraduate years with good memories and this will be a part of it." College senior Allie Deitch, who has served as vice president for education of the Drug and Alcohol Resource Team, won the second highest female honor award, the Harnwell Award. President of the First Amendment Task Force and College senior Eric Tienou will receive the Cane Award on Ivy Day. Former UTV-13 President Heather Dorf, a College senior, is this year's Goddard Award winner. Bliss on Bliss lead singer Adam Matta will receive the Spade Award, recognizing the Engineering senior's work as stage manager of Mask and Wig and manager of the Artist Guild. Former Panhellenic Council President and Kappa Alpha Theta sister Lissette Calderon, a Wharton senior, will receive the Brownlee Award on Ivy Day. The awards will be presented by the respective winners from the Class of 1971, whose 25th reunion is this spring.