The Classics Department gives three awards to students at its annual Eta Sigma Phi initiation ceremony.
Established in 1997 in memory of Walter J. Kropp, S.J., by the faculty of the Department of Classics, this award is given to the senior classics major who has attained the highest average in classics courses. Winners:
- 1999 Shannon M. Nessier
- 2000 Mary Nuxoll
- 2001 -----
- 2002 Ryan J. Avalos
- 2003 Thomas A. Garvey
- 2004 Christine E. Lechelt
- 2005 Emily M. Mooney
- 2006 Jennifer S. Roberts
- 2007 Sara J. Pauk
- 2008 Michael E. Gray
- 2009 Erik L. Hesla
- 2010 Dan Felice
- 2011 Morgan Hunter
- 2012 Jordan Clarke
- 2013 Victor Republicano
- 2014 Margaret Woods
- 2015 Jonathan Homrighausen
Established in 1997, this prize is given to the Classics major or minor who writes the best single essay or research paper on a Classical topic, as determined by the Classics Department. This award is not given every year. Among recent winners are:
- 2004 Ariel Dillon: The Political Nature of Fifth Century Athenian Tragedy
- 2005 Emily C. Elrod: Reexamining Heresy: The Donatists
- 2008 Rileigh Turnbull: Sappho’s Symposium: A Study of Sappho in Her Social Context
- 2010 Dan Felice: Divine Revenge and Human Values in the Plays of Euripides
- 2011 Morgan Hunter: "The Envy of the Gods Did Not Take Place"
- 2012 Mitch Metling: "'Remember that you are just a man': An Examination of the Triumphs of Julius Caesar and their Political Ramifications"
- 2013 Brenna Donnellan: Dionysus and Jesus: Immortal Mortals and Other Similarities
- 2014 Sierra Cirimelli-Low: For the Excitement of Virtue and Defense of the Homeland: The "Praefatio in Athleticam" of Paulus Hector Mair's De Arte Athleticam.
- 2015 Jonathan Homrighausen
The Augusta Prize in Greek Studies, established in honor of Helen Moritz, Associate Professor Emerita of Classics, is given to the most promising student of ancient Greek who plans to continue study of the language beyond the first year. Winner:
- 2015 Keegan Pincombe