Radcliffe's Fay Prize Awarded to Horwitz

Leora Idit Horwitz, a young scholar concentrating in social studies whose research on electrophysiology has been published in the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is the winner of the Captain Jonathan Fay Prize, Radcliffe College's highest undergraduate honor.

Radcliffe College President Linda S. Wilson made the announcement at the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association's Strawberry Tea for graduating senior women on May 29 in Agassiz House, Radcliffe Yard. The award, which includes a monetary prize and a special Latin diploma, is presented annually to the graduating senior woman who "has given evidence of the greatest promise" by her scholarship, conduct, and character during her four years at Radcliffe and Harvard.

"I am proud to present this year's Fay Prize to Leora Horwitz. By being accorded this honor, she joins a unique community of women who have used their extraordinary talents to advance our society," said Wilson. "Whether she is writing a senior honors thesis, conducting electrophysiology research with North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical College, playing cello with the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, or doing public service on behalf of Bosnian refugees and homeless women and children, Leora does it all with talent, energy, excellence, and warmth. She is sure to have a stellar career in medicine."

Horwitz was one of only twelve women elected to Phi Beta Kappa during her junior year. She was the recipient of the Detur Book Prize for top first-year students and the Horblit Prize for chamber music. Wrote John D. Stubbs Jr., Ph.D., the Allston Burr Senior Tutor at Currier House, and several co-signers, "Leora graduated valedictorian of Great Neck South High School, where she was a National Merit Scholar, a recipient of the Bausch & Lomb science award, and editor-in-chief of her school newspaper. Continuing this tradition of academic excellence here at Harvard and Radcliffe, Leora has taken five classes nearly every semester of her undergraduate career, and has earned thus far a stellar record of six A- 's and 25 A's.

"But perhaps her crowning academic achievement is her electrophysiology research with the North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical College, where she worked for two summers. As a result of that research, she has coauthored pieces in the American Journal of Cardiology and in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. At a recent Boston medical conference, she presented an abstract of her team's research on an improved detection test for the frequently fatal heart condition ventricular tachycardia."

Wrote Todd J. Cohen, former director of Electrophysiology at North Shore University Hospital, "Leora is clearly the most outstanding candidate I have ever seen. She is not only brilliant, but also exceptionally mature for her age. Leora exhibits all of the characteristics that one could ask for in a physician. She is exceptionally talented, but more importantly, she is warm, sweet, and sincere with an extremely humble demeanor which is rare to find in such a superb candidate. She has a unique aptitude for seeing subjects from a different perspective, and shedding light on areas of medicine where roadblocks may exist."

Her academic accomplishments are equaled by her accomplishments as a musician. A cellist since third grade, she excelled with this instrument throughout high school, and has performed with several orchestras and in solo recitals. In 1991, she played with the well-known World Youth Symphony Orchestra in Interlochen, Mich.

Within Radcliffe and Harvard, she served as a Social Analysis 10 unit test grader, as a Freshman Prefect, and as chief editor of the Currier House Facebook in 1995. Her public service has included work as an intern with Beacon Hill Athletic Club Charitable Foundation in Boston, and as a playspace activity leader with Horizons Initiative in Dorchester.

Horwitz is a resident of Currier House and Great Neck, N.Y. She is the daughter of Jonathan and Rena Horwitz. After spending the summer in Israel, Horwitz plans to enter Harvard Medical School this fall and pursue a career in clinical and academic medicine.

The Captain Jonathan Fay Prize was established in 1907 by Joseph Storey Fay in memory of his great-grandfather, Captain Jonathan Fay.