Awards

The Department of Computer Science has three awards that are awarded annually to its students.

The Ben Hescott Award for Excellence in Teaching is awarded annually to one or more extraordinary undergraduate teaching assistants or teaching fellows to recognize them for their excellence in teaching. The award has been named after beloved former faculty member Assistant Professor Ben Hescott, who spent 10 years leaving his mark on Tufts CS and was instrumental in making computer science more accessible to all students. His contributions to the department are remembered by his colleagues and former students by this award. Hescott is an internationally recognized educator and the CS faculty who worked with him can think of no higher compliment than to compare someone’s teaching to his.

The 2023 winners of the Ben Hescott Award are Ankur Dahal, E23, Diego Griese, E23, Max Mitchell, A23, and Teo Patrosio, E23.  View previous Hescott awardees.

The David Krumme Award for Experimental Computer Science is awarded annually to a student or group of students for producing substantial CS projects of practical worth, outstanding participation or organization of student-directed coding events or hackathons, and/or meritorious research in experimental computer science. This award was established in honor of Professor David Krumme, a beloved faculty member who retired from Tufts in 2004.

The 2023 winners of the David Krumme Award are Binh (Irene) Chang, E23, and Madeline McLaughlin, A23. View previous Krumme awardees.

The James Schmolze Award for Excellence in Computer Science is awarded annually by the computer science department to a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in computer science. The award goes to a student with an excellent academic record in computer science, with preference for students who also have engaged in active contributions or service that enrich the CS department community. This award was established in memory of Associate Professor James Schmolze, who spent over 20 years as at Tufts before his tragic death from cancer in 2006, making sustained contributions in research, teaching, and service. Schmolze served as the last department chair of the combined EECS department, which split to form the CS department and the ECE department in 2002.

The 2023 winner of the James Schmolze Award is Ellis Brown, E23. View previous Schmolze awardees.