2022 Phillips Classical Prize and Vassilis Lambropoulos Modern Greek Prize Winners
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. Thanks to a generous donor, the award has been renamed the Vassilis Lambropoulos Modern Greek Translation Prize to honor Vassilis Lambropoulos. Professor Lambropoulos was the first Director of the Modern Greek Program beginning in 1998 and continuing until his retirement in 2018.
Exams were taken on March 16 and winners were honored at the 2022 Translation and Teaching Awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 19 in the Michigan League. Each winner receives a book prize of their choice.
The Department of Classical Studies is pleased to announce this year’s winners:
JULIET CHRISTIN
Recipient of the Phillips Classical Prize for Latin 3
Juliet is a senior majoring in classical archaeology. She started taking both Latin and Greek at Michigan, and she used her translation skills in her thesis, "Small but Mighty: the Role of Millet at Gabii." Juliet is interested in archaeobotany and ancient agriculture, but also loves Latin epic poetry and agricultural writing. Reading and translating parts of Pliny's Natural History was one of her favorite parts of working on her thesis. In the future, she will be applying to grad school in hopes of further studying archaeobotany.
EVANGELIA KAHREMANIS
Recipient of the Vassilis Lambropoulos Modern Greek Translation Prize - Intermediate
Evangelia is a sophomore double majoring in Neuroscience and Modern Greek. Her favorite hobby is dancing. Evangelia’s future plans include studying business and computational neuroscience, as well as brain mapping and analyzing data through technology.
ELLIS MUCCHETTI
Recipient of the Phillips Classical Prize for Latin 4
Ellis is an LSA freshman planning to major in Classical Languages and Literature. He's tutored middle and high school students in Latin for five years and enjoys it so much that he's planning to become a middle or high school Latin teacher. Outside of Latin, Ellis enjoys playing the cello in orchestras and chamber groups and volunteering at the Campus Farm.
BRISILDA NILAJ
Recipient of the Vassilis Lambropoulos Modern Greek Translation Prize - Advanced Intermediate
Brisilda is a first-generation college student pursuing a degree in Biomolecular Science and Modern Greek Language. She intends to apply to Medical School in June 2023. She is currently working as an EKG technician at St. Joe’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Over the summer Brisilda plans on studying for the MCAT while working on some research case studies with residents at Henry Ford Hospital. Her mom, as an immigrant parent, has been a continuous source of inspiration and encouragement throughout her life, she set the example for Brisilda to always challenge herself! In her free time, Brisilda likes to weightlift, spend time with friends and family, enjoy the sun, and volunteer! Her family immigrated to Greece from Albania, and so she completed some of her education in Greece and then moved to Michigan during 9th grade.
JOSH PARASHAR
Recipient of the Phillips Classical Prize for Latin 1
Josh is a student in LSA majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Although his journey in Latin just started, he hopes to take on a Latin minor. Some of Josh’s hobbies outside of Latin include swimming, hiking, basketball, and traveling.
DAVID SHUTT
Recipient of the Phillips Classical Prize for Greek 1a (Classical ) and Greek 1b (Koine)
David began by teaching himself elementary Greek before deciding to study it formally at the University of Michigan, where he is an Ancient Greek major. While he enjoys reading Homer and other Classical literary texts, David’s main interest is in the Koine Greek of the Septuagint and the New Testament. He is interested in using linguistics and papyrology to do research in the lexicography of the Greek Bible.
JAMES UTLEY
Recipient of the Phillips Classical Prize for Latin 5
Although this is his third year on campus, James has been studying Latin since High School. Some of his interests include running, reading, fencing for the University team, and relaxing in the sunshine with his dog, Bailey. He plans to graduate in May 2023 with a double major in Classical Languages and Literature, and Art History. Afterwards he hopes to go to graduate studies for classical civilizations and culture with the eventual goal of working as a museum curator in the future.