Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced that Hannah Brown of Kirkland, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, has been awarded the university’s Wilmer L. and Margaret M. Kranich Prize.

The Kranich Prize is awarded annually, and it recognizes a science, engineering, or management major who best integrates the humanities and arts into his or her undergraduate experience–including course work, independent projects, and extracurricular activities. Wilmer Kranich was a professor of chemical engineering who was active in the development of the WPI Plan, and who served as dean of graduate studies for the university.

“The Humanities and Arts play a fundamental role at WPI, and they have certainly played an important part in Ms. Brown’s undergraduate experience,” said Dean of Undergraduate Studies Arthur C. Heinricher. “WPI’s rigorous curriculum is anchored in the Humanities and Arts because we believe that this is where students learn about themselves and their place in a global community. They learn how to communicate effectively and they become better equipped to apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems–and even create beauty–all for the benefit of others. During her four years at WPI, Ms. Brown has made the WPI campus much richer through her contributions in both music and theatre. She has participated in 17 different productions at WPI, doing everything from acting, to lighting design, to directing. Through it all, she has managed rigorous course work and research projects, including one focused on water quality in the Nantucket harbor. Ms. Brown has used her theatre experience to challenge herself and help herself grow in dimensions very different from her engineering education. She is a remarkable young woman, and she is a very worthy recipient of this recognition.”