Undergraduate Student Awards
UnderGraduate Student Awards
The Department of Art Conservation presents three awards annually: two to graduating seniors, the David J. Toman Award and the Joseph N. Weber Research and Scholars Award, and the Vicki Cassman Undergraduate Art Conservation Award, which provides internship funding to UD art conservation majors at any level.
Vicki Cassman Undergraduate Award in Art Conservation
Established in 2021 to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Vicki Cassman, former director of the Undergraduate Program in Art Conservation, the Vicki Cassman Award provides professional development funds for undergraduate students in the Department of Art Conservation. The award supports projects that embody the spirit of exploration, creativity and service that Cassman encouraged in her students.
Applications for the Vicki Cassman Undergraduate Award are typically due in the spring. Awards are available to undergraduates in any year. Students may receive up to $2,000 to help fund an internship, research, travel or a professional development plan. Creative ideas are encouraged, and plans do not need to be confirmed before students submit their applications. Applicants must submit an application, a budget and one reference. Please direct questions and requests for application forms to vc.award.committee@gmail.com.
Previous recipients of the award include:
2026
- Madison Griffin received funding to complete work with the Richmond Conservation Studio in Virginia
- Ella Rachsdorf received funding towards her project with the Old Field Farm County Parkland in Stony Brook, New York
- Izzy Strnic gained experience with gallery work at the Floating World Gallery In Chicago, which specializes in Japanese art
- Téa Chu Vitale spent the summer working with undergraduate alumna (and 2021 Vicki Cassman Award recipient) Miriam-Helene Rudd at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library in NYC
2025
- Leilani Anupol built an acoustic guitar in an apprenticeship with a guitar maker
- Rachel Clements attended a 6-week archaeological conservation summer internship with the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology in Turkey
2024
- Sarah Nolt worked with the Pennsylvania German textile-based collections at the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
2023
- Lisa Clifford presented a poster about her research with the Greener Solvent Project at the 20th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference in Valencia, Spain
2023
- Nicholas Fandaros did a summer internship with Central Park Conservancy, NYC
2022
- Morrigan Kelley attended the National Park Brick, Earth, Stone, and Timber (BEST) Conservation Workshop in Traditional Wood and Log Preservation and Repair, Grand Teton National Park
- Abby Peterman pursued a summer internship at the Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA
2021
- Yulimar Colon researched art Conservation in Puerto Rico, in support of her senior thesis project
- Anna-Collette Haynes completed a summer internship at the National Museum of Natural History
- Miriam-Helene Rudd interned with The Hispanic Society Museum and Library's Conservation Department
David J. Toman Award
Since 1997, the David J. Toman Foundation and the Department of Art Conservation have presented the David J. Toman Award to an outstanding senior. Faculty nominate students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving cultural property beyond the classroom through internships, service projects and academic activities. The David J. Toman Foundation provides the monetary award.
Judith and Gary Toman established the David John Toman Foundation in 1999 in memory of their son, David. An undergraduate art conservation major at the University of Delaware, David died in a bicycle accident on campus. He was particularly interested in objects conservation, especially the conservation of outdoor sculpture.
David expressed his commitment to conservation in his own words: “The past is stored and recorded in its cultural objects. It is our job as conservators and curators to preserve these materials for the enjoyment and education of future generations. The extremely temporal outlook of this throwaway society must not be influence enough to neglect the care given to cultural property.”
Family and friends remember David for his infectious happiness and positive outlook.
Previous recipients of the award include:
2025 Susana Stovell
2024 Abby Peterman
2023 Angie Lopez
2022 Yulimar Luna Colón
2021 Miriam-Helene Rudd
2020 Philip de Paola
2019 Annabelle Fichtner and AnnaLivia McCarthy
2018 Nell Weaver
2017 Karissa Muratore
2016 Julianna Ly
2015 Rebecca Selig
2014 Kelsey Wingel
2013 Ellen Nigro
2012 Kevin Barni
2011 Hannah Mancill
2010 Susan Pavlik
2009 Katelyn Uehling
2008 Stephanie Oman
2007 Heather Hansen
2006 Fran Ritchie
2005 Erica Cooney
2004 Matthew Cushman
2003 Anya McDavis-Conway
2002 Anya Shutov
2001 Jennifer Jae Mentzer
2000 Tatiana Bareis
1999 Lisa Ann Moberg
1998 Judy L. Dion
1997 Sara Shpargel
Joseph N. Weber Art Conservation Research and Scholars' Award
This award honors Dr. Joseph N. Weber who taught in the Department of Art Conservation from 2005 until his retirement in 2012. During this time, “Dr. Joe" generously shared his significant scientific knowledge and research experiences in industry and elsewhere with our students. His enthusiasm for teaching was evident, as was his deep concern for the professional growth and development of our students at all levels. This undergraduate award is given in honor of Dr. Joseph Weber to a deserving senior who has demonstrated excellence in overall scholarly performance and research during their tenure at the University of Delaware.
2025 Clara Anderson
2024 Naomi Toyama
2023 Nicholas Fandaros and Mallory Gehrer
2022 Anna-Colette Haynes
2021 Brittany Bednash
2020 Olivia Jaeger
2019 Emma Heath
2018 Amanda Kasman
2017 Yan Ling Choi
2016 Adrienne Gendron
2015 Madeline Cooper
2014 Alyssa Hull
2012 Hannah Shearer
2011 Marlene Yandrisevits
2010 Jonathan Hoppe
