John Christopher Hartwick Scholarships Awarded to Six Rising Seniors
Six students were awarded the prestigious John Christopher Hartwick Scholarships during the College’s Honors Convocation on April 29. The scholarships represent the highest academic distinction at Hartwick College.
Established in 1967 by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of then-President Frederick M. Binder, the scholarships recognize rising seniors for exceptional academic achievement, leadership and character.
Each recipient receives a substantial tuition grant and joins a distinguished group representing the highest ideals of Hartwick College.
Hannah Mae Gilliand
Hometown: Trenton, Michigan
Majors: Criminal Justice and Political Science
Minors: Sociology and Peace and Conflict Studies
Achievements: Baker Simpson Fellowship recipient ’25; Political Science and Criminal Justice Faculty Scholar; Andrew B. Saxton Undergraduate Fellow for Political Science; Duncan B. Smith Award for Exceptional Creativity in Theater; Dean’s List (every semester); president of Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society); member of Alpha Phi Sigma (National Criminal Justice Honor Society).
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year?: I’m looking forward to beginning my senior thesis, diving into the complexities of the criminal justice and political systems. I hope to stay involved in the arts as much as I can, as balancing work with fun is so essential to my life. I can’t wait to celebrate one last year with my found family here on the hill.
What does this type of recognition mean to you?: I am so grateful for all of the support the faculty and staff here at Hartwick have given me. This honor means my dedication, persistence and passion have paid off. I use this achievement to show my little siblings that anything is possible and to show my family how far we have all come. I am surrounded by compelling award winners and I couldn’t be more proud to be a JCH scholar next to my best friend, Samuel M. Scott.
Addison Havens
Hometown: Heuvelton, New York
Majors: History, Global Studies and Secondary Education
Minor: Religious Studies
Achievements: Andrew B. Saxton Fellow in Global Studies ’25 & ’26; Andrew B. Saxton Fellow in Religious Studies ’26; Faculty Scholar in History ’26; Elizabeth Hoopes Memorial Award ’26; member of Pi Lambda Theta, an education honor society; member of Theta Phi Alpha fraternity.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year?: I am so excited to start my student teaching and get into the classroom next year. I am also thrilled to start working with my clubs and organizations for event planning!
What does this type of recognition mean to you?: I remember my first year at the Honors Convocation looking up at the 2025 John Christopher Scholars with admiration and longing. From then on, I set my mind towards ending up on that stage. I put in hours of dedication to my academics, attended club meetings and events, and reached out for new opportunities, developing countless connections along the way. Now that I’ve accomplished what I set out to do, it feels so surreal. It makes me feel so proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished. But I know I couldn’t have done it without all the support from my friends, sisters, faculty and staff.
Adilyam Imyarova
Hometown: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Majors: Criminal Justice and Sociology
Minors: Women & Gender Studies and Forensic Science
Achievements: Faculty Scholar in Criminal Justice and Sociology; Detweiler Global Fund Award recipient; Moot Court finalist; Senator Seward Public Service intern; Dean’s List (all semesters); International Club President; founder of the Muslim Student Association; Global Ambassador; executive vice president of Student Government.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year?: I’m looking forward to getting more involved in research and developing stronger skills, especially studying violence against women—a topic that I’m deeply passionate about.
What does this type of recognition mean to you?: This recognition is truly meaningful to me, as it reflects not only my personal efforts but also the strong support system I have experienced at Hartwick. The sense of transparency, openness and genuine care within the community means so much to me and has shaped both my academic journey and who I am as a person. I am especially grateful to the faculty, who are deeply committed to their students and consistently go above and beyond to help them succeed. I also sincerely appreciate the Office of Global Education for creating such a welcoming environment and for helping me feel at home so far from where I started.
Jenna Lackey
Hometown: Brunswick, New York
Majors: Psychology and Creative Writing
Minor: Biology
Achievements: Sigma Tau Delta President; Writing Underground Vice President; Andrew B. Saxton Fellowship in Creative Writing; published poet in Arch, Word of Mouth and Lavender Review; Faculty Scholar in Psychology and Literature, Media and Writing.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick?: I’m looking forward to the work I’m going to do with my departments on thesis projects. I hope to present my poetry, psych study and honors album project at Student Showcase next spring. I also look forward to making the most of the Hill with my friends for one last school year!
What does this type of recognition mean to you?: Everything. I try really hard to do my best, for myself, my friends and my family who have always supported me in my academics. Being seen for how much I do and help is the greatest honor, and I hope I make them all and Hartwick proud with whatever I do next. Thank You.
Sebastian Quarella
Hometown: Greene, New York
Major: Music Education
Achievements: National Association for Music Education (NAfME) E-Board; Phi Mu Alpha E-Board; Latinos Unidos Association (LUA) member; Music Department Public Relations Student Worker; Dean’s List (every semester); Freedman Prize recipient; presenter at the 2025 New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) conference; Andrew B. Saxton Fellowship.
SUNY Broome Achievements (Transfer Student): Student Assembly Chief of Staff; Student Leadership Award; SUNY Student Assembly Conference Spring 2024; Phi Theta Kappa; Theater Club.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick?: In the fall, I am excited to perform my senior recital and to work on my senior thesis, which will be on the effects of global affairs on music. I am also excited to keep a consistent gym schedule to stay physically and mentally healthy. In the spring, I look forward to my semester of student teaching.
What does this type of recognition mean to you?: This recognition is validation of the hard work I consistently put in to better myself academically, mentally and physically. It gives me the opportunity to represent everyone like me and to show them that they can accomplish really great things. I am so grateful for that and for everyone who has helped me get to this place.
Samuel M. Scott
Hometown: Morristown, New Jersey
Majors: Honors Art and Theatre Arts
Minors: Art History and General Education
Achievements: Two-time winner of the Kenneth Golden Outstanding Design or Technical Achievement Award (’24 and ’26); Andrew B. Saxon Fellowship for Theatre Arts (’25); Arkell Hall Award for Art (’26); Faculty Scholar for Theatre Arts (’26); Dean’s List Honoree since Fall 2023; president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia for two years running.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick?: Finally getting to explore my creative processes on a more professional level, being able to network and connect with peers, and plan a pathway for post-Hartwick career possibilities. On a simpler note, I am looking forward to being able to mentor younger theatre and art majors, and truly deepen my connections with them, hoping to help them find their place as I have found mine.
What does this type of recognition mean to you?: This recognition proves to me and everyone here on this campus that the arts can be equally valued as STEM or other such professions. Hartwick strives to be a college of balance, and allowing someone such as myself to earn this high an honor through more creative majors proves to me that anyone and everyone can succeed. The only difference is if and how you strive for greatness. Winning this high honor also proves that whatever your identity (queer, trans, low-income, etc), you can hold power and strength in this world, and you should do it unashamedly.
About the JCH: Rising seniors are nominated by the faculty of their major departments on the basis of academic achievement, leadership and character. Students nominated to compete for the JCH scholarship are named Faculty Scholars. From among the Faculty Scholars, six are selected by the Scholarship Awards Committee to receive the JCH scholarships. The names of this year’s recipients will join those of the previous winners on a plaque located in the Stevens-German Library foyer.
Beginning in 1997, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the scholarship, each JCH Scholar is also awarded a medallion that can be worn at commencement and other appropriate academic occasions. The JCH medallion is funded by members of one legacy family, beginning with Joyce R. Smith ’58 and Rev. Russell D. Smith ’59 and continuing with William Kitson III ’86 and Diane Smith Kitson ’87, a JCH Scholar herself.
