Every year we count on a set of celebrations in the Department of Classical Studies to mark the culmination of the academic year. The Philips Awards ceremony is one of the happiest of these events. It brings together students, family, friends, and faculty in a beautiful event honoring outstanding student performance. The Phillips Classical Prizes are a long-standing tradition in the department to promote and encourage the study of Greek and Latin. They originate from an endowed scholarship fund, bequeathed to the Department in the will of Henry Phillips, who died in 1895. The Phillips Classical Prizes are awarded annually to outstanding undergraduate students who, by virtue of a special examination, prove their excellence in the various levels of Latin or Ancient Greek. Modern Greek Prizes have been awarded annually since 1993 to undergraduate students at an intermediate and advanced-intermediate level for excellence demonstrated in the Modern Greek translation competition.
Glenn M. Knudsvig Award for Outstanding Latin Teaching in Michigan Secondary Schools for 2025
Awarded to Amy Barker, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, Detroit, MI
The Outstanding Latin Teacher Award was established in 1981 and was renamed to honor the memory of Professor Glenn M. Knudsvig in 1999. The annual recipient is a secondary-level Latin teacher within the State of Michigan. Recipients are selected from among nominations submitted by UM undergraduate and graduate students, UM Latin faculty, and instructors at the secondary and college level.
Amy Barker earned her B.A. in classical archaeology from the University of Michigan in 1999. She earned her M.A. in Latin from the University of Michigan in 2018, where she also won a Context for Classics Translation Prize for her work on Boethius. She is currently enrolled in the University of Michigan's Alternate Route to Certification program for teachers. Amy has been president of the Michigan Classical Consortium since 2022, and she is currently leading a committee for the promotion of Latin programming in Michigan schools.
Student Award Winners
ANTHONY ASMUS
Awarded the CFC Undergraduate Translation Prize for Aeneid by Virgil
Anthony Asmus is a junior in the College of LSA studying Computer Science. Upon completing his undergraduate career, he hopes to find a career combining the classics with the technical skills learned through his major. Outside of academic pursuits, Anthony enjoys playing folk music, crocheting, and reading. Anthony performed his translation as a sea shanty-style song with his father accompanying him on guitar while he played the accordion.
ALI ELHADI
Recipient of the Phillips Classical Prize for Greek 2
Ali Elhad has been captivated by the ancient world since he discovered Homer and mythology in secondary school. At the University of Michigan, he has been able to dive deeper into his passion by studying Greek and Latin - an opportunity he did not have in previous schools, which lacked an emphasis on the ancient world. Ali explains that earning the Philips Classical Prize for Greek 2 is a meaningful achievement, fulfilling a long-standing desire to engage with ancient texts in their original language. Ali's love for classical literature (and Greek in particular) has only increased since beginning his studies at UM. Ali shares, "It has been a fulfilling journey that I hope will lead to a lasting engagement with he language and the classics."
Ali intends to attend law school after completing an undergraduate degree.
QUENTIN KING
Recipient of the Phillips Classical Prize for Latin 4
Quentin King is a third-year student majoring in Economics and minoring in both Latin and Coaching and Leadership, while being on the pre-law track. Outside of school, Quentin is in his second season working as a public relations intern for the Detroit Pistons and his first semester working as a peer tutor for elementary Latin students. In his free time, he enjoys reading works by Stephen King and histories from various ancient Roman authors, while also spending time at home in Columbus, Ohio, with his younger brothers, parents, and close friends. Quentin would particularly like to thank Dr. Gina Soter, Dr. Donka Markus, Dr. Ian Fielding, and Dr. Shonda Tohm, all of whom have made Quentin's Latin experience at Michigan beyond enjoyable, and have pushed him to be a better student not only in classics but across all his coursework.
ALEXANDER KRAVETZ
Recipient of the Philics Classical Prize for Latin 2
Alexander is a pre-medicine sophomore studying Neuroscience at the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). In addition to Latin, Alexander enjoys reading and writing and is interested in scientific research. They intend to pursue research throughout their undergraduate years, with the possibility of continuing this pursuit via graduate school or medical school.
GEORGIA PALLAS
Recipient of the Vassilis Lambropoulos Modern Greek Translation Prize - Intermediate
Georgia is a sophomore from Northville, MI, studying Business.She enjoys taking her dog to the park, exercising, practicing yoga, and playing the piano in her free time. She hopes to travel more in the future - her goal is to see the world. Georgia's career goal is to build a fulfilling life where she can enjoy the results of her hard work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
MARINA ZAREMBA
Recipient of the Vassilis Lambropoulos Modern Greek Translation Prize - Advanced Intermediate
Marina is a senior majoring in Economics and Modern Greek with a minor in Entrepreneurship. After graduation, she will work as a Law Clerk at a local Employment Law firm for one year before attending law school. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling (specifically to Greece), painting, and golfing. Marina loved learning more about her Greek heritage through the University's Modern Greek Department, and is so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from so many amazing professors!
