Eva Altizer, Staff Writer
On Friday, April 17, the 2026 Academic Awards Convocation awarded various students and faculty, and the winners of the President’s Medal were revealed – the highest honor a student can receive at Denison, awarded to graduating seniors.
This year’s medalists are Antonia Baylor ‘26, Katie Corner ‘26, Erica Elefson ‘26, Brennan Kelly ‘26, Cian Nicholas ‘26, Kael Shah ‘26, Susannah Snell ‘26, Sarah Sollinger ‘26, Ellie Song ‘26 and Nancy Tran ‘26.
Additionally, the recipients of the Provost’s Academic Excellence Award, seniors Dea Brahimaj ‘26, Eliana Lazzaro ‘26 and Lewis Nguyen ‘26, were recognized.
President Adam Weinberg said that the ceremony serves as a reminder that Denison University is “not just an academic institution, but a place that’s deeply committed to the liberal arts.”
The ceremony recognized not only the President’s Medal recipients and the winners of the Provost’s Academic Excellence Award, but the induction of Phi Beta Kappas and student fellowships and awards.
Provost Kim Coplin was also recognized as she will soon be retiring. President Weinberg addressed her in his speech, saying, “your love for Denison has made Denison a better college.”
Provost Coplin was one of the first recipients of the President’s Medal in 1985, which according to Ginny Sharkey ‘83, the director of institutional communications, was the beginning of the Academic Awards Convocation.
“It was an opportunity and a special recognition of academic excellence across the board,” Provost Coplin said.
“During my time as provost, I’ve always enjoyed just the excitement that comes from introducing the President’s medalists, but I also especially enjoy recognizing faculty colleagues, and I read the citations for the three surprise awards that faculty are giving. And I always get a little bit teary by the time I’m getting to the end,” Provost Coplin said.
President Weinberg also values the support shown at the convocation.
“I know that students kind of know this, but I don’t think our students really understand how deep friendships run, how strong the community is here, how good our values are, and how Denisonians show up for each other,” he said. “I was blown away my first year, how many students showed up to cheer for their friends, and how loudly they cheered from the bottom of their hearts. And I think it means a lot to our students that their friends are there to celebrate it with them, but also just to recognize them,”
Provost Coplin described the criteria for awarding President’s Medals.
“You have to have a baseline to be considered for a President’s Medal. There has to be a baseline of academic excellence,” she said. “You’ve got to have a pretty high GPA, [be a] pretty strong student. But then we want you to be doing other things that Denison gives you the opportunity to do, to be engaged in the arts – if you’re a science major, to really go deep in the sciences, and maybe have done a real prestigious research experience, be engaged in athletics.”
“So it’s a combination, and this is what I think we’re so good at Denison, is having students put things together in unique combinations,” Provost Coplin said.
Snell, one of the medalists, was not expecting the award.
“I’m very excited. I feel very grateful to be at such a wonderful place, with such a wonderful community,” Snell said.
Shah also was caught off guard, but happy all the same.
“I’m over the moon. I had no idea I was going to win this. I’m thankful to everyone at Denison and my coach, everyone in the GC [Global Commerce] department,” Shah said. “I’m grateful, that’s all I can say.”
“I believe we have the best students in the country – that we have the best faculty, and we get to celebrate faculty who have achieved main chairs. We recognize faculty who win teaching awards. So it’s really, it’s about the whole academic experience here. It’s one of my favorite things we do each year,” President Weinberg said.