Opening Exercises highlight undergraduate achievements

Seven of the University undergraduate students were recognized for their academic accomplishments in the annual Opening Exercises in the University Chapel on Sunday.

"We are proud of this year's prize winners and pleased to celebrate their commitment to their academics and to the Princeton community," Dean of the College Jill Dolan said in an address during the ceremony.

"Along with achieving high grade point averages, these distinguished students dedicate themselves to activities that reach all corners of the campus and beyond," she added. "They study internationally, belong to campus clubs, undertake competitive internships and important service work, and maintain artistic practices."

The Freshman First Honor Prize, awarded to sophomores in recognition of their academic achievement in the first year, was shared by Matthew Tyler ’19 and Bendeguz Offertaler ’19.

From Mathey College, Tyler, a prospective mathematics major and a member of the math club, spent his past summer with the Princeton-in-Munich program learning German language and culture.

Tyler could not be reached for comments.

From Forbes College, Offertaler, a prospective physics major and a member of the chess club, received the Manfred Pyka Memorial Prize in Physics.

“The level of physics and math courses at Princeton exceeded that which I have previously encountered, but not by too much,” Offertaler explained. “However, the general high expectation for all subjects was new to me, and it took some time before I felt comfortable with it.”

The George B. Wood Legacy Sophomore Prize, awarded to members of the junior class in recognition of their academic achievement in their sophomore year, was shared by Hans Hanley ’18 and Prem Nair ’18.

Hanley, a prior recipient of the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence in 2015, is an electrical engineering major with a certificate in applications of computing. A member of Whitman College, Hanley tutors students through both the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning and the Princeton College Counseling Project.

Nair is a computer science major and a previous recipient of the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence. A member of Mathey College and Charter Club, Nair is co-president of the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club, co-director of the TigerLaunch entrepreneurship competition, and an organizer with HackPrinceton.

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Hanley and Nair were not available for comments at the time of publishing.

Asil, an economics major pursuing a certificate in finance. On campus, Asil is a foundingundergraduate fellow in the Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy and Finance, and will be anundergraduate course assistant for the Department of Economics this year.

“In my final year in Princeton, I hope to start learning anotherlanguage and run the HiTops Princeton Half Marathon,” Asil said about his plans for the senior year. After graduation, Asil plans to continue hisstudies at either a graduate or law program.

Salazar is a chemistry major who had previouslyreceived the Department of Chemistry’s William Foster Memorial Prize. Salazar is a pre-health peer advisor, head tutor for Organic Chemistry with theMcGraw Center, and former officer in the PrincetonAmerican Sign Language Club.

After college, Salazar hopes to attend medical school and work with medically underserved communitiesthrough NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders.

“Rather than focus on accomplishing any particular thing, I aspire togrow deeper in my Christian faith, and also to serve others and spread hope in everyday interactionswith friends, acquaintances, and strangers. I think these moments of connecting with people and Godare more important than accomplishments,” she noted when asked about her aspirations and achievements.

The Class of 1939 Princeton Scholar Award, awarded to the junior with the highest academic standing for all preceding college work at the University, was presented to Lydia Liu ’17, a prior recipient of both the Freshman First Honor Prize and the George B. Wood Legacy Sophomore Prize, as well as two Shapiro Prizes for Academic Excellence and the Department of English’s Bain-Swiggett Poetry Prize.

“I don't aspire to be ‘the best academically.’ That concept just seems somewhat impossible in a place like Princeton, where everyone excels in what they do,” Liu said. “What motivates me in academic work and research is the enjoyment of learning new things and tackling intellectually compelling challenges.”

Liu added that the guidance from professors, teachers, and advisers has inspired her academic curiosity at the University.

A member of Forbes College and the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, Liu is involved in Princeton Women in Computer Science, the Princeton University Language Project, and the Princeton Chinese Theatre.