FREDERICK, Md.--Eleven student-athletes received prestigious awards for their outstanding achievement in the classroom at the Honors Convocation at Coffman Chapel on Hood's campus Tuesday afternoon.

Liz Rakowski, a senior on the women's soccer team, received the American Institute of Chemists Foundation Award, presented to a student or students majoring in biochemistry or chemistry for outstanding scholastic achievement and ability. A native of Baltimore, Md., Rakowski is pursuing a major in chemistry with a minor in physics. She completed research as part of a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. She is a member of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon national chemistry honor society.

Katie Thomas, a senior on the track & field team, received The Elizabeth B. Bower Prize, honoring the late Elizabeth B. Bower, is awarded annually to an outstanding student in chemistry. The prize was established in 1956 by the late Rebecca Ann Eversole Parker ’55, who was inspired by Professor Bower to make chemistry her career. At the time of her death, Rebecca was studying for her Ph.D. in chemistry at Oxford University. In 1962, the Eversole family endowed the prize as a memorial to Rebecca. A native of Frederick, Thomas is pursuing a major in biochemistry. An honors program student, she will attend veterinary medicine school in the fall. She completed research as part of a National Science Foundation laboratory development program with Professor Christopher Stromberg. She is a member of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon national chemistry honor society.

Jamie Bingaman, a freshman on the women's soccer team, received two awards: The Chemistry Achievement Award, presented by the CRC Press, Inc., to the highest-ranking first-year student in Chemistry 101-102 during the current academic year; and The Margaret Louise Kleist Prize, established by Mrs. C. Walter Kleist and the late Mr. Kleist, which is awarded to an outstanding member of the freshman class selected from nominations by the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Group. Bingaman hails from Boonsboro, Md.

Andrew Weiss, a senior on the track & field team, received The Department of Chemistry and Physica Faculty Award, presented to an outstanding senior major. The department faculty provides this book prize annually. Weiss is a native of Palmerton, Pa., and is pursuing a major in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. He completed research in microwave assisted organic chemistry with Professor Susan Ensel.

Ben Caplins, a senior on the cross country and track and field teams, received two awards: The Elizabeth Leiby Wood Prize, awarded to a member of the rising senior class who is an overall outstanding student and has accomplished superior work in chemistry or biochemistry. The Prize was established in 1944 by Scott S. Leiby in honor of his daughter, Elizabeth, Class of 1938. Caplins also received The C. May Hudson Prize, awarded to a senior mathematics major who has shown outstanding achievement in mathematics. Originally from Park Hall, Md., Caplins is pursuing a double major in mathematics and chemistry. He is the first Hood student ever to participate in the M.A.A. William Lowell Putnam competition. He is a member of Pi Mu Epsilon honorary mathematics society, the Gamma Sigma Epsilon national chemistry honor society and plans to attend graduate school in the fall.

Jess Krietz, a senior on the softball team, received The Hypatia Mathematics/Science Education Prize, awarded to the education student who exemplifies excellence in the field of mathematics or science teaching. This prize, named for the female Greek mathematician who taught at the Library of Alexandria in the early fifth century, is awarded in honor of past education department professors of mathematics and science pedagogy at Hood College. Krietz, a native of Thurmont, Md., is a mathematics major who is also pursuing secondary education certification to teach mathematics. While interning at Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School, she was observed translating the mathematical concept “Order of Operations” into easily understood terminology for the divergent, urban students in class.

Emily Bernstein, a senior on the equestrian team, received The Janice E. Cole Writing Prize,  established in 1992 by Hood’s humanities faculty. This prize is awarded to a student or students who submit in the annual prize competition the most outstanding essay originally written for a course in the humanities. The prize was introduced in 1992 as the Center for the Humanities Prize. It was renamed in spring 1997 in honor of the late Dr. Janice E. Cole, professor of English at Hood for 31 years. Bernstein, from Summit, N. J., is pursuing a double major in English and early childhood education. Her winning essay is titled “Literary Prejudice: The Problem of Assigned Genre in ‘Measure for Measure’.” She is co-captain of the equestrian team, secretary of the Student Education Association and a member of the Mortarboard and Kappa Delta Phi honor societies. After graduation, she plans to teach in an elementary school. Her long-term plans include pursuing a graduate degree in English with the possibility of teaching English at the college level.

Bernstein also received The Janice E. Cole Scholarship Fund, established in memory of Professor Janice E. Cole. This prize is awarded to a student who has done excellent work in English. The late Professor Cole taught English at Hood from 1965 to 1996. Beloved by her students and highly respected by her colleagues, Professor Cole gave unstintingly of her time to countless faculty and College committee. Most of all she was devoted to the students of Hood College, particularly her advisees and those enrolled in her classes.

Carter Reitman, a freshman on the men's tennis team, received both The Outstanding Arabic Student Award, presented to a student who has excelled in elementary Arabic and who plans to pursue additional studies in Arabic, and The Logic Prize, awarded for outstanding performance in logic. A native of Frederick, Reitman is an honors program student.

Kelly Keyser, a senior on the cross country and track and field teams, received The James B. Ranck Book Prize in American History, an annual gift honoring the late Professor Emeritus James B. Ranck. It provides prizes of significant books on American history or political life to a student who is outstanding in this field. Professor Ranck taught history and political science at Hood from 1929 to 1967. Keyser hails from Damascus, Md., and is pursuing a double major in history and sociology. She has earned this award through her strong understanding of American history and society. An example is her work in the history seminar where she wrote a most outstanding original history project on the history of Damascus, Md. The project required extensive research, writing and organizational skills, which she displayed superbly. She is a member of the Hood College Chapter of the Mortar Board and a recipient of the Hood College Legacy Ring. She is an active member of the student government association and the Hood College Wind Ensemble. She earned the Capital Athletic Conference All-Academic Award in 2007-08 as a member of the cross-country and track teams. Keyser plans to attend law school.

Laura Hines, a junior on the women's soccer team, received The Julia Holzapfel Carhart First Place Prize in Mathematics, established in 1994 in honor of Julia Holzapfel Carhart ’30, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics. Prizes are awarded to juniors majoring in or displaying a strong interest in mathematics. The students selected by the mathematics department this year have demonstrated the highest academic distinction and promise, and also serve as role models, encouraging women to major in mathematics. Hines, from Monrovia, Md., is pursuing a major in mathematics with a minor in economics. She was recently inducted into the Pi Mu Epsilon honorary mathematics society.

Dani Hunt, a junior on the women's tennis team, received The Pi Mu Epsilon Book Prize, given to two members of Pi Mu Epsilon national honorary mathematics society. It is funded by a Chapter Grant from national Pi Mu Epsilon. A native of Glen Burnie, Md., Hunt is majoring in mathematics with a minor in physics. She is the vice president of the Least Squares Math Club and was recently inducted into the Pi Mu Epsilon honorary mathematics society.