����vlog’s northern campus, Björklunden vid Sjön, is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 annual awards, recognizing extraordinary service, stewardship, and creative achievement. The honorees will be celebrated during a special ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, as part of the inaugural Boynton Festival at Björklunden.

These awards represent the university’s highest recognition of individuals whose contributions have profoundly advanced the mission, character, and legacy of Björklunden.

The 2026 Richard Warch Outstanding Service to Björklunden Award will be presented to Barb and Fran Michaels. Named in honor of former ����vlog President Richard Warch, the award recognizes individuals whose dedication, generosity, and sustained commitment have made a lasting impact on Björklunden. Through their stewardship of the grounds, support of the chapel, and vision for preserving and enhancing the beauty of Lawrence’s northern campus, the Michaelses have helped strengthen and sustain some of Björklunden’s most cherished features for future generations.

The 2026 Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award will be presented to James T. Berkenstock. The award honors individuals whose creativity, artistic leadership, and commitment to cultural enrichment embody the spirit of Björklunden founder Winifred Boynton. Berkenstock is being recognized for decades of artistic excellence and visionary leadership in the arts. As the founding artistic director of Midsummer’s Music, he has played a transformative role in shaping the cultural landscape of Door County and expanding access to world-class chamber music throughout the region.

The Door County community and Friends of Björklunden are invited to attend the Boynton Festival and the awards celebration and reception, which will take place from 2–4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, in Vail Hall at Björklunden vid Sjön.

For more information about the Boynton Festival and award celebration, visit��lawrence.edu/articles/boynton-festival or contact��bjorkseminar@lawrence.edu.

Castillo is among 39 students who comprise the 58th class of Watson Fellows announced recently by the Watson Foundation. Watson Fellows are nominated by partner institutions from across the United States and competitively selected to engage in a year abroad to explore a topic of scholarly interest to them. The 2026 class will travel to more than 70 countries and pursue topics spanning a range of topics from healthcare and the arts to environmental sustainability and technology.��

“On my Watson year, I plan to explore how women navigate and influence historically male percussion communities across the world,” said Castillo, a Music Performance major in Percussion. Her year-long exploration will take her to Ireland, Guinea, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica.��

The Watson Fellowship is available to students in any major, and all fields of inquiry are eligible. Students are encouraged to propose projects that meaningfully connect to their backgrounds, interests, and activities but will stretch their boundaries for learning and growth.��

“Brianna’s selection as a Watson Fellow reflects her intellectual curiosity, creativity, and drive,” said Claire E. Kervin, Director of Fellowships Advising. “This fellowship will allow her to pursue an ambitious project and engage in a transformational experience.”��

Partner Colleges & Universities Owing to the rigor of the program, participants must be affiliated with one of the 41 college and university partner organizations who advise and support Fellows throughout their projects. Partner organizations include:��

Amherst College, Bard College, Bates College, Berea College, Bowdoin College, Bryn Mawr College, Caltech, Carleton College, Colby College, Colgate University, College of the Atlantic, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Davidson College, Earlham College, Grinnell College, Hamilton College, Harvey Mudd College, Haverford College, Hendrix College, ����vlog, Macalaster College, Middlebury College, Oberlin College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, Reed College, Rhodes College, Rice University, Scripps College, Sewanee, Swarthmore College, Union College, University of Puget Sound, Ursinus College, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, Wheaton College, Whitman College, Williams College

About the Watson Foundation & Watson Fellowship Established in 1968, the Watson Fellowship is designed to give students a rare opportunity to step outside traditional academic and career pathways and immerse themselves in new cultures while pursuing independent projects. Fellows are selected for their leadership, character, and the originality of their proposed work. The Watson Foundation aims to provide Fellows the opportunity to broaden their perspective, expand their potential, and grow into confident, humane, and effective leaders within a global community.��

The Richard Warch Outstanding Service Award honors Richard Warch who served as the fourteenth president of ����vlog from 1979 to 2004.�� During his tenure, Björklunden expanded and flourished as the location for the long-standing Björklunden Seminars, as well as the groundbreaking Student Weekend Seminar Program that continues to engage ����vlog faculty and students in various rigorous academic pursuits.�� Nominees should embody the active commitment to Björklunden as demonstrated by Rik Warch.

The Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award pays tribute to Winifred Boynton who created the beautiful and historic Björklunden Chapel through imagination, spirit, and tenacity.�� She chose to share the chapel with the world as a place “far removed from confusion and aggression.”�� The award recognizes a living individual or couple who, through imagination. spirit, and tenacity has created something of significant impact and enduring value to Door County – whether through the realm of the arts, science and technology, natural world, or civic engagement.

Does someone come to your mind?�� Individuals familiar with Björklunden and Door County are asked to submit nominations for either or both of these awards.�� Fill out this for either or both awards by Thursday, March 26, 2026.�� If you need a hard copy of the nomination form, please contact Cheryl Kopecky (ckopecky2@me.com).

Land of Winter has been praised on “Best of 2025” lists by The New York Times, Boston Globe, and Gramophone as well as in reviews by The Washington Post, National Public Radio and other notable news organizations.��

Michael Clayville, instructor of music in entrepreneurial studies and social engagement at Lawrence, is one of the founding members of Alarm Will Sound, a contemporary chamber orchestra led by Artistic Director and Conductor Alan Pierson. A trombone player, Clayville met some of the group’s founding musicians while a student at Eastman School of Music. The experience, he said, reflects the importance of a shared journey with fellow music students that he now encourages through his courses at ����vlog.��

Erin Lesser, who is married to Clayville, joined Alarm Will Sound as a flute player more than a decade ago. An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, Lesser has been a professor of flute at Lawrence since 2011, where she prepares students for the contemporary music landscape, including work by living composers such as Dennehy, and using music to engage with pressing issues.����

For both Lawrence professors, their experiences as practicing musicians, and now GRAMMY award winners, show up in their teaching and in their classrooms.����

The ����vlog Conservatory of Music offers four degree options and 28 areas of study with an emphasis on preparing students for the evolving world of music. For more information on programs available in the Conservatory of Music or in Lawrence’s College of Arts and Sciences, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@lawrence.edu or 920.832.6652.��

Lawrence also was recently earned a spot on the America’s Top Colleges list by Forbes and was included on its list of 25 private schools with the most generous financial aid.����

“Students and their families understand their college education is an investment that returns dividends for the rest of their lives,” said Vice President and Chief of Staff Christyn Abaray. “A Lawrence education equips students, not only with in-depth knowledge of their academic discipline, it prepares them to thrive in an environment of continual change and to lead in careers that may not yet even exist. In such a setting, skills that are the hallmark of a liberal arts education – problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, information literacy, ethical decision-making, and collaboration – empower Lawrence graduates to successfully navigate the dynamics of the workplace they will be entering,” Abaray said.����

����vlog skyrocketed up the Social Mobility rankings this year to the 63rd position (tied with five other schools), gaining an impressive 49 places from its 112th place spot last year.����

“Our students come from all over the world and from all walks of life to pursue a high impact, immersive and collaborative education that encourages them to dream bigger and to confidently pursue their personal vision of success,” said President Carter. “That’s what we do at ����vlog – what we always have done; it is gratifying for Lawrence to be recognized for its nearly two centuries of shaping the futures of students.”��

For the seventh time since the 2016 edition, Lawrence has appeared on the rankings for Undergraduate Teaching Programs, this year taking the 59th position (a tie with six other schools) down slightly from last year.����

“I am pleased that ����vlog continues to be recognized for its commitment to providing a transformational education that prepares students to make a difference in the world as they follow their unique paths,” said President Carter.����

About the Rankings��

U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges by key measures, including Outcomes, Peer Assessment, Faculty Resources, Financial Resources, and Standardized Tests. Learn more at .����

Roach credits the entire team for the recognition.

“Any recognition of one member of an opera production belongs to the whole team,” said Roach. “More than 100 Lawrentians worked on our production of one-act operas, onstage and backstage and in the pit and behind the scenes.”��

The 2024 production of Cendrillon at Lawrence was paired with Alice Tierney, a piece by Melissa Dunphy and Jacqueline Goldfinger, to celebrate the contributions of women in the opera world.��

“We are always sharing resources between the two shows and really trying to present both these operas written by women,” Roach said. “Trying to bring forward creators who might be underrepresented in the opera field is at the forefront of the opera program’s mission.”

Meanwhile, Two Remain is based on the true stories of two Holocaust survivors, Krystyna Zywulska and Gad Beck.

Roach said one of the most powerful aspects of the theater is its ability to keep history alive by wrestling with challenging themes and stories.

“It’s so important that we continue to tell these stories through works in the theater,” Roach said. “It’s important that we don’t lose the narrative, the truth behind what happened. Part of why we’ve chosen to perform an excerpt of this work at LU this coming year is that our students are able to tell these important stories, keeping history alive and in the forefront.”

The Lawrence Opera Theatre program plans to perform a portion of Two Remain in their fall scenes program this year.

Looking ahead, Roach is excited by the upcoming season, which includes the world premiere of a new opera, A Nearer Mother, by composer Evan Mack and librettist Joshua McGuire. The piece was commissioned by Copeland Woodruff, director of opera studies at Lawrence, and the Lawrence Opera Theatre program. For the past three years, Woodruff has worked closely with the creative team to bring the opera to life.

A Nearer Mother explores the story of AIDS activist Ruth Coker Burks, known as the “Cemetery Angel,” and her daughter Allison. Burks and her daughter will be in attendance at the March 2026 performance, which will be paired with the one-act opera A Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret, by composer Leanna Kirchhoff.��

“I am so excited about doing a brand-new piece; we will be working hand-in-hand with the creators of these works,” Roach said. “Working on this opera will continue to tell the story of the many important, wonderful people that we lost in the early years of the AIDS epidemic.”��

These latest honors are a testament to the talent and commitment of Lawrence Opera Theatre. Lawrence has received 11 awards in The American Prize, including two special judges’ citations and two productions tied for first place. Roach has won the prize in Conducting, College/University division, for Suor Angelica and the prize in Conducting both in Professional and College/University divisions. Woodruff has won the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing and was the first stage director to be given The Independence Day, Honored Artists Award for Sustained Excellence. Lawrence is also in the National Finals of The American Prize for Best Production for Cendrillon/Alice Tierney, and Copeland Woodruff is once again up for the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing.��

Save the dates for this season’s performances:

• Fall Opera Scenes: Thursday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Lawrence Memorial Chapel. Free Admission.

• Mainstage Opera: The Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret and A Nearer Mother (world premiere): Thursday, March 5-Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, March 8 at 3 p.m. in Stansbury Theatre.

• Spring Opera Scenes: Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Stansbury Theatre. Free admission.

Update: Nov. 17, 2025

The 2024 Lawrence Opera Theatre production of Viardot’s Cendrillon and Melissa Dunphy’s Alice Tierney were also awarded third place in the American Prize competition for Opera Performance in the college/university division!��

Fulbright Top Producing Institutions such as Lawrence value global connection and support members of their campus communities in pursuing international opportunities.��

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, it has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.��

In all, Lawrence has produced 67 Fulbright scholars since the program was first introduced.��

Lawrence’s 2024-25 Fulbright class includes:

• Jonathan Bass ’24, who was a double degree student in music performance (piano) and French and francophone studies. He received the Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Award in the Arts to study in France. He is pursuing a graduate degree in piano performance.��
• Gunner Bauer ’23, who majored in government and Russian studies, is teaching English in Slovakia.
• Miri Villerius ’23, who was a music and religious studies double major, is teaching English in Italy.
• Ayla Walther ’23, who received her teacher certification with plans to teach German, is teaching English in Germany.

Applicants to the Fulbright at Lawrence are supported by a fellowships team led by Claire Kervin, assistant professor of English and director of fellowships advising.��

“Being named a Top Producing Fulbright Institution is an incredible honor,” Kervin said. “It recognizes Lawrentians as the remarkable individuals they are and acknowledges Lawrence’s deep commitment to international learning and student success.”

Kervin applauds the work of the Fulbright Campus Committee, which works with students and graduates in preparing for their Fulbright application. The committee has included in recent years faculty members Jason Brozek, Chloe Armstrong, Madera Allan, and Kelly Culhane, and staff member Julie Haurykiewicz.

“Becoming a Fulbright Top Producing Institution reflects the hard work of many people—not just the Fulbright awardees, but also the faculty and staff who have supported them,” she said.

That work has resulted in��nine Lawrentians being named semifinalists this year. Announcements of final 2025-26 Fulbright awards are expected in the spring.

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to U.S. scholars, teachers, and faculty to conduct research and teach overseas. In 2022-23,��Timothy X. Troy, the��J. Thomas and Julie Esch Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama and professor of theatre arts, taught and did research in Ireland as a Fulbright recipient. He is the 12th Lawrence faculty member to earn a Fulbright since 1995.

Also, Cayla Rosché ’13, lecturer of music in the Conservatory, is a former Fulbright recipient who now serves as a Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador, representing the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program.��

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.����

��For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit����