Jewell announces 2026 Faculty Award finalists

On Apr. 17, official College social media announced the last of this year’s Faculty Award finalists. The Faculty Award is the highest distinction issued to a graduating senior at Jewell and is “based on academic achievement and exemplification of the highest ideals of a liberal arts education.” To be selected, seniors must have a 3.75 GPA, have spent three years at William Jewell College, and undergo a rigorous essay and interview process.

This year’s finalists are:

Grace Allen, Oxbridge molecular biology major
Derrick Ampofo, biology major
Ford Brandt, physics major
Ivan Calderon, dual major in musical theatre and English
Lianna Morelli, psychology major

Photos were provided by finalists as part of the application process, and provided to the Hilltop Monitor by the Marketing Department.

Allen, Ampofo, and Brandt all intend to continue to medical school after their time at Jewell. Calderon plans to work as a teaching artist in Kansas City, and Morelli will take a gap year before pursuing a Ph.D in clinical psychology.

The winner of the Faculty Award will be announced at the annual Celebration of Honors, held at 7 p.m. in Gano Chapel on Apr. 24, 2026.

Ethan Naber

E. Naber is Chief Editor of the Hilltop Monitor and a senior Oxbridge Institutions & Policy/Maths double major.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

two × four =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.