Hartwick College Kellogg Prize Finalists Present at Honors Convocation

Themes of life balance, personal transformation and self-acceptance took center stage during Hartwick College's April 29 Honors Convocation, where three finalists competed for the 2026 Abraham L. Kellogg Oratorical Prize.

Patrick Close '26, a music major with minors in business administration and music business from Greenville, New York, presented "Counterpoint."

Ellie Kalbach '26, a nursing major from Spring City, Pennsylvania, delivered an oration titled "Memento Mori."

The final speaker, Amelia Williams '26, a double major in psychology and political science with a minor in gender and sexuality studies from Portmore, Jamaica, presented "Mi Tuh: Becoming."

Finalists are selected through a multi-round process that begins with nominations from classmates and concludes with review by a committee of Hartwick community members. During Hartwick College's 94th Commencement ceremony on May 16, Williams was announced as the recipient of the Abraham L. Kellogg Oratorical Prize, awarded annually to the graduating senior who delivers the top oratorical presentation during Honors Convocation.