Orange Alert

College of Arts and Sciences graduates named 2012 Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Distinguished Fellows

Stephen Barton '12 and Rachel Weiser '12 receive prestigious University honor

May 10, 2012, by Sara Miller, SU News Services

College of Arts and Sciences graduating seniors Stephen A. Barton, an international relations; economics; and Russian language, literature and culture major; and Rachel Weiser, an English major,  have been named Syracuse University's 2012 Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Distinguished Fellows.

Each year, SU honors the outstanding talents of its faculty and students through a program made possible by an endowment provided by Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ‘56, distinguished alumna of the University and member of the Board of Trustees. The University annually names Judith Seinfeld Distinguished Fellows to recognize passion for excellence and exceptional creativity and originality in any field of academic or artistic endeavor—and to encourage continued outstanding performance.

Barton, of Southbury, Conn., has been involved with Habitat for Humanity since he was a freshman, and has also volunteered his time to SU's Advocacy Center, serving as editor of the newsletter; a member of e5m, a peer education theater group; and helping plan the annual Take Back the Night rally against sexual violence.

A member of the national honor fraternity Phi Sigma Pi, a Coronat Scholar, a Remembrance Scholar, University Scholar and Orientation Leader, Barton has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Grant for 2012-2013.

Weiser, of Austin, Texas, is a member of SU’s Renée Crown Honors Program and consistent dean’s list student, and has already been recognized by the English Department with the Jean Marie Richards Memorial Award for excellence in English, as well as the Margaret Y. Cragg Award for highest GPA in English courses.

Her critical and creative writing proficiency has allowed her to start work on a novel, working with novelist and SU professor Arthur Flowers.

The individuals honored as Judith Seinfeld Distinguished Fellows do not apply for the recognition. A selection committee of faculty and previous Seinfeld awardees review student nominations and recommend graduating seniors for the honor, with the Chancellor making the final selection.

Seinfeld Student Fellows receive a cash grant of $5,000 each. There are no restrictions on the recipients’ use of the funds. Previous Seinfeld Student Fellows include Vincent Appel and Pearly Leung (2008), and Nicholas Ross (2010).

Media Contact

Judy Holmes