Each year, the chemistry department awards three undergraduate prizes: the Town Scientific Prize, the Leon Burr Richardson Prize, and the CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award, to recognize the high achievement of freshmen and sophomores in the chemistry curriculum. This year, we are excited to introduce a new prize, the David Lemal Freshman Prize, named in honor of Professor Emeritus David Lemal, awarded to a freshman who has shown promise in research. All recipients were selected by the faculty, and the awards were formally conferred during the Chemistry Research Colloquium on February 12, 2026.
The Francis L. Town Scientific Prize, established in 1926, is awarded annually to "meritorious and deserving students at the end of their sophomore year, in the scientific course of the College" as of the end of the sophomore year. Each department/program in the Science Division selects one student to receive this award, and this year’s recipient is Nathan Chen ’27.
The Leon Burr Richardson Prize, established by James B. Curry, Dartmouth Class of 1925, in honor of Professor Leon Burr Richardson, Dartmouth Class of 1900, recognizes a student who has achieved outstanding work in chemistry during their freshman year, preferably someone who also excels in entry-level courses. This year, the honor is awarded to Zachary Pavlov ’28.
As a memorial to the late Professor John Winn, the John Winn Gen Chem Prize (formerly known as the CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award) recognizes one student each year for outstanding academic achievement in chemistry during their first year. This year’s recipient is Dylan Smith ’28.
Last but not least, we are proud to introduce the inaugural David Lemal Prize, in honor of Professor Emeritus David Lemal. Beginning in 2025, it will be given each year to a freshman who shows clear promise in research activities. Professor Lemal attended the award presentation on February 12th and presented the first prize to Ana Kangsumrith ’28.
Please join us in congratulating all of this year’s awardees for their excellence in the chemistry curriculum and research.