WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College President Maud S. Mandel on Sunday conferred bachelor of arts degrees to 14 local graduates.

 

Williams held a number of online events for its class of 2020 over the weekend, including an online tribute on Sunday. The college has tentatively planned an in-person commencement for summer 2021, but the official graduation date for members of this class is June 7, 2020.

 

The college's online celebration of the class of 2020 can be viewed here.

 

Marlena R. Horton, daughter of Judy and Wayne Horton, majored in biology.

 

Catherine Louise May, daughter of Jeffrey May and Kara Thornto, majored in political science. She was president of the female voiced a cappella group Ephoria and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

 

Kevin Webster Coakley, son of Michael and Wendy Coakley, majored in economics. He worked for Williams’ Sports Information Office, where he wrote articles about the college’s football, field hockey, and men’s tennis teams, and kept the scorebook for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Active in the local community, he coordinated the Center for Learning in Action’s Sunday night tutoring program and coached at Crossover Academy’s basketball-focused program at Brayton Elementary in North Adams. He studied at the Williams-Exeter Programme at the University of Oxford and made the dean’s list in three semesters.

 

Jack E. Ellrodt, son of Marianne Deignan Ellrodt and Dr. Gray Ellrodt, majored in sociology. He was a class agent, captain of the men’s rowing team, and a DJ at the college’s radio station WCFM 91.9.

 

Emily Rose Tibbetts, daughter of Karen and Gary Tibbetts, majored in political science. A Gaudino Fellow and a Career Center consulting peer advisor, she was also a member of the cross country and track and field teams.

 

Caroline E. Fairweather, daughter of Judith and John Fairweather, majored in theater. A recipient of the Hubbard Hutchinson Fellowship in Theatre and the Gilbert W. Gabriel Memorial Prize in Theatre, she participated in various Department of Theatre productions, as well as Cap and Bells and the Ephlats a cappella group.

 

Emma Miriam Lezberg, daughter of Jenny Greenfeld and Bob Lezberg and granddaughter of Barbara and Elliot Greenfeld, was a contract major in social studies. She was chair of the immigrant advocacy student group No Lost Generation, Tzedek (community outreach) coordinator of the Williams College Jewish Association, and an intern at the Berkshire Immigrant Center. In addition, she was a Latin and English tutor at several local schools and co-captain for the Williams Center at Mt. Greylock Regional School. A member of the Committee on Educational Affairs at Williams, she was also a teaching assistant for philosophy and psychology courses, and a world literature research assistant. A recipient of the Erastus C. Benedict Class of 1821 First Prize in Classics for Latin, she wrote an article for the scholarly journal Boundary2, and she wrote her senior honors thesis on critical theory. She graduated with highest honors, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and received the C. David Harris Jr., Class of 1963, Prize in Political Science and the Muhammad Kenyatta, Class of 1966, Community Service Prize.

 

Jacob Ethan Lezberg, son of Jenny Greenfeld and Bob Lezberg and grandson of Barbara and Elliot Greenfeld, majored in computer science and physics. He was president of the martial arts club and co-president of the Williams College Jewish Association. He also participated in the ballroom dancing club, the chess club, and Magic: The Gathering club. In addition, he was a teaching assistant for the computer science department and a research assistant for the physics department. Elected to Associate Membership in the scientific research society Sigma Xi, he received honors in physics for a thesis on the precise measurement of isotope shifts in singly-ionized calcium.

 

Terrence J.M. Nykorchuck majored in history and political science. His parents are Christine and Al Russell of Pittsfield, and Michael and Jennifer Nykorchuck of Lakewood Ranch, Fla. He was the PAC comedy stand-up coordinator, a DJ at the college’s radio station WCFM, and a contributor to the student-run satirical newspaper The Haystack. He spent a semester abroad in Freiburg, Germany, studying the European Union, and made dean’s list in fall 2017 and spring 2018.

 

Olivia Kathleen Carlson, daughter of Darrell and Patricia Carlson, majored in psychology. She was a member of the women’s varsity basketball team, participated in the peer health club, and was a first-year orientation leader.

 

Anna Beatriz Cuellar-Parajon, daughter of Marta Parajon and Denis Cuellar, majored in psychology. She participated in Concert Choir and the Neighborhood Leadership Team.

 

Melissa C. Swann, daughter of Ann Marie and Rob Swann, majored in statistics. She was a member of the women’s squash team and was active in the Center for Learning in Action.

 

Adly H. Templeton, whose parents are Safa Zaki and Huff Templeton, majored in computer science and statistics and was elected to Sigma Xi.

 

Matthew B. Wiseman, son of Kathryn and Richard Wiseman, majored in geosciences. He was a member of the college’s cycling team and ski patrol and was elected to Sigma Xi.