Sterling Award: Kayla Ryan ('23) and Katie Yoon ('23)

The J.E. Wallace Sterling Award for Scholastic Achievement was established in 2006, and is one of Stanford's most selective recognitions of a student's overall academic performance. The top 25 graduating seniors in the School of Humanities and Sciences are honored for their efforts and academic achievements throughout their undergraduate education. The award includes:

• Recognition of the secondary school teacher whom the awardee names as the most influential instructor of their scholastic career.

• Recognition of the student’s most influential Stanford academic advisor, or other Stanford faculty or staff member.

• And a luncheon celebrating the reception of this award with other award recipients.

The award is named after President Sterling, who served as Stanford’s president from 1949 to 1968, and as chancellor until 1985. During his tenure, Stanford reached national prominence through his efforts to hire top scholars and create “steeples of excellence” that also attracted the best students in the country.

Not all departments and programs can count a Sterling Award recipient among their graduates, but Symbolic Systems can proudly boast of two such students among this year's recipients: Kayla Ryan ('23) and Katherine (Katie) Yoon ('23),