Each year, the Undergraduate Chair, in coordination with Undergraduate Executive Committee and the English Department Faculty, selects one student to receive this award for distinguished academic achievement. The Rittenberg Prize represents the highest honor that an English major can receive, since it is awarded for sustained excellence throughout one's years at Penn. We choose this same student to carry the flag for English at Commencement.

See also the L. Barry Pick Prize for Best Undergraduate Thesis.

2006: Ruth McAdams.

2005: Ian Duncan. Honorable Mention: Sarah Herold.

2004: Lynn Huang. Honorable Mention: Johanna Busch.

2003: Blake Harrison.

2002: Yaran Noti.

2001: Gregory Steirer.

For a list of Honors Awardees and their theses year-by-year, click here.