Deadline: Nominations for the Taliesin Prize

The Taliesin Prize for Distinction in the Art of Learning—named for the early poet famed for enlightenment and inspiration—was established by the Division of Arts & Humanities in 2020. It is awarded to three graduating seniors who best exhibit a spirit of intellectual adventure in their curricular paths as Harvard undergraduates.

While many prizes take as their starting point conventional standards of academic excellence like a student’s GPA or exemplary thesis, the Taliesin Prize takes a holistic look at a student’s curricular choices. Nominated students are not necessarily those with the most accomplishments, the highest number of courses taken, or the most distinctive joint concentration. The Prize Committee examines the transcripts of nominated students for evidence of intrinsic curiosity, and an indication that the student deliberately charted a path through the curriculum that reflects courage, creativity, and exploration.

Nominations for the Taliesin Prize are made by faculty members in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in the spring semester. Faculty members should email a short statement (that includes the student’s name, email address, and your perspective on why the student meets the Prize criteria) to arts-hum@fas.harvard.edu. Nominated students will have the opportunity to submit a short written response about their curricular pathways before Prize selection, but are considered without an application. 

To learn more, visit: https://students.artsandhumanities.fas.harvard.edu/taliesin-prize