The Alec Award
The Alec Award, given in memory of Evan Alexander Johnson ’97, honors a senior or junior member of Eta Sigma Phi, the national Classics honor society, who has a gentle and humble heart and is dedicated to serving others in a kind, compassionate, and Christ-like way.
Alec Johnson (1974-2014), a Wisconsin native, took Greek at St. Olaf and graduated summa cum laude in 1997 with a Mathematics major. After a few years spent as a high-school teacher and software developer, he went on to graduate school at UW-Madison, earning a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 2011. At the time of his death, he was doing research in astrophysics at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, using computer modeling to predict the timing of solar flares and their effect on the power grid, computers, and satellites. A dedicated servant of the poor, he gave away most of his income; he had a special interest in Uganda, where he funded scholarships for needy children, established school gardens and tree nurseries, and promoted sustainable farming.
Jeremiah J. Harrelson, Alec’s brother-in-law, is the donor of this annual award. He graduated from St. Olaf in 1999 with distinction in Classics; he earned his M.A. at Denver Seminary, his Master of Studies at the University of Oxford, and his J.D. at the University of St. Thomas. He is a criminal defense attorney with a private law practice in Hudson, Wisconsin.
In 2023 the Alec Award went to Sophia R. Bloch (Longmont, CO), a junior Classics student majoring in Religion. As grammateus of Delta Chi, Sophia keeps members informed of upcoming chapter events. She is currently President of the Jewish Student Organization and an Interfaith Fellow in the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community; she also helps guide first-year students as a SOAR (St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources) leader. She enjoys reading, writing, rock climbing, and baking.
Each winner of the Alec Award receives a certificate and a monetary prize. Jeremiah Harrelson was able to attend the Classics Conversation Table on April 19, 2023, and congratulate Sophia in person.
Previous Winners of the Alec Award
2016: Leif D. McLellan ’16 (Classics and Ancient Studies major), Shoreview, MN
2017: Katherine (Kate) A. Bello ’17 (Latin, Medieval Studies, and English major), Mission Hills, KS
2018: Dylan K. Walker ’18 (Classics major, concentrations in Film Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies), Mountain Grove, MO
2019: Devin P. Ames ’19 (Classics and Religion major), Huntington, WV, and Mary Landis Gaston ’19 (Classics major), Nashville, TN
2020: Ella A. Gruel ’20 (Classics and Psychology major, concentration in Linguistic Studies), Carbondale, CO
2021: Kara C. Anderson ’21 (Classics and History major), Rochester, MN, and Julia C. Walter ’21 (Classics and Religion major, concentration in Linguistic Studies), Crystal Lake, IL
2022: Emily K. Knuths ’22 (Classics and Philosophy major), Madison, SD