The Llewellyn John & Harriet Manchester Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Although from 1938 to 1952 his name was a mystery to the University community, today the name Quantrell is synonymous with excellence in undergraduate teaching. Ernest Quantrell, who made his anonymous donation nearly 70 years ago, created an endowment that was unique in American higher education. He created a monetary award that would be presented annually to faculty members in recognition of their excellence in teaching undergraduate students. His anonymity prevailed for more than a decade, but in 1952, Quantrell, a University Trustee, added to his gift and consented to be acknowledged as the donor. At that time he also named the award for his parents.

The Llewellyn John and Harriet Manchester Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching is the nation’s oldest prize given for undergraduate teaching.

The five Chicago faculty members being honored with the 2005 award are:

László Babai, Dorothy Hanck, Stephen Meredith, Holly Swyers and Kenneth Warren.

2005 Award Winners:

• László Babai, Professor in Computer Science, Mathematics and the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division
• Dorothy Hanck, Professor in Medicine, and the Committees on Neurobiology, Cell Physiology and Computational Neuroscience
• Stephen Meredith, Associate Professor in Pathology and the Biological Sciences Collegiate Division
• Holly Swyers, Collegiate Assistant Professor and Katharine Graham Fellow in the Social Sciences
• Kenneth Warren, the William J. Friedman & Alicia Townsend Friedman Professor in English Language & Literature