Radcliffe Awards Highest Honor Fay, Levi Prizes

The highest honor a Radcliffe woman can receive went to a biochemistry concentrator with a 14.5 cumulative GPA and a history of running marathons on a $1 bet.

President Linda S. Wilson awarded the $5,000 Captain Jonathan Fay Prize to Ann C. Hwang '97 in a 28 ceremony highlighted by the surprise appearance of Hwang's mother.

Also at the ceremony, Wilson awarded the $500 Doris Cowen Levi Prize to Kate deLima. The prize is awarded to students showing excellence in musical theatre.

Hwang, a Currier House resident, will go before the Radcliffe Board of Trustees Wednesday, June 4 to receive a diploma written in Latin--the only such diploma given at Harvard University.

"I think it's a wonderful honor," Hwang said. "And I think it's a wonderful tradition."

Immediately after handing Hwang a bouquet, Wilson called Hwang's mother from the audience, much to Hwang's surprise.

"Since she's here, I'd like to thank my mom," Hwang said. "I'll have to clean my room."

Whei-Lin Hwang later explained that she had arrived about an hour before the ceremony, waited in an office, then concealed herself by sitting behind two standing audience members.

She succeeded in surprising her daughter.

"It was a complete surprise," Hwang said. "I've been calling home, leaving messages about random things, and I was getting worried because no one called me back."

Giving an example of Hwang's grit, Wilson mentioned that Hwang's grit, Wilson mentioned that Hwang ran a marathon as a first-year despite never having run more than six miles.

"My current roommate and I were sitting in the Union freshman year," Hwang said after the ceremony. "She bet me a dollar that I wouldn't run the Boston Marathon...I never thought a marathon was something I could do, but I finished it and won the dollar...I think I spent it on a Coke."

She said that the race took her three hours and 52 minutes, and that she also ran in 1995 and 1996. Each time she ran as a bandit, or unofficial runner, she said.

In her speech, Wilson said that Hwang will attend the Institute of Public Health in Cambridge, England next year and that as a first-year she tutored with the Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment program.

In addition, she taught English as a second language in Chinatown and worked in alumni relations at the Business School. where Wilson said Hwang "responded to alumni with great tact and diplomacy."

Though Wilson did not announce the winner's name until the end of the speech, Demetra C. Koutsoukos '97 says she guessed it early on.

"She's a leader who's very concerned in making sure that the team feels that it plays a critical part in the final project," Koutsoukos said.

The Fay Prize is given annually to the graduating senior who "has given evidence of the greatest promise" by her scholarship, conduct and character.

A Radcliffe committee accepts one recommendation from each house, Wilson makes the final decision. Interest from the fund pays the cash prize.

In awarding the Levi prize to deLima, Wilson listed her accomplishments in musical theater, including playing Countess Almaviva in Dunster House's "The Marriage of Figaro" and holding the title role in the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players' production of "Patience."

She was also one of the first proctors in the Freshman Arts Program and wrote and performed the one-women show, "What More Do I Need?"

Cabot Houses's deLima said she plans to seek a master in Vocal Performance.

"If I can make a living being a performer I'll be happy, but there's such a small likelihood of anybody making it that I'm not really counting on it," she said. "But I'll give it a shot for a couple of years

In addition, she taught English as a second language in Chinatown and worked in alumni relations at the Business School. where Wilson said Hwang "responded to alumni with great tact and diplomacy."

Though Wilson did not announce the winner's name until the end of the speech, Demetra C. Koutsoukos '97 says she guessed it early on.

"She's a leader who's very concerned in making sure that the team feels that it plays a critical part in the final project," Koutsoukos said.

The Fay Prize is given annually to the graduating senior who "has given evidence of the greatest promise" by her scholarship, conduct and character.

A Radcliffe committee accepts one recommendation from each house, Wilson makes the final decision. Interest from the fund pays the cash prize.

In awarding the Levi prize to deLima, Wilson listed her accomplishments in musical theater, including playing Countess Almaviva in Dunster House's "The Marriage of Figaro" and holding the title role in the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players' production of "Patience."

She was also one of the first proctors in the Freshman Arts Program and wrote and performed the one-women show, "What More Do I Need?"

Cabot Houses's deLima said she plans to seek a master in Vocal Performance.

"If I can make a living being a performer I'll be happy, but there's such a small likelihood of anybody making it that I'm not really counting on it," she said. "But I'll give it a shot for a couple of years