Maccolades October 2024: Moot court champs, expanding access, ambassador for peace, and more

Maccolades is a monthly round-up of the most recent accolades and accomplishments earned by members of the Macalester community. Below are highlights from October 2024.

Their day in moot court

Macalester entered three two-person teams in the University of Chicago Moot Court Invitational, and for the first time in the five-year history of the program, walked away the champion. There were strong showings by veterans Riley Hodin ’25 and Reece Robinson ’26 and newcomers Seneca Wilson ’27 and Silvia Lungu ’28, but the toast of the tournament was the duo of Laila Reja ’27 and Sayuri Cumaranatunge ’27. They advanced to the elimination rounds as the 12th seed, and then proceeded to defeat University of California–San Diego, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, and University of California–Santa Cruz to take home the title. Cumaranatunge was also recognized as a top individual competitor. 

Parks and re-creation 

Dr. Daniel Trudeau, professor and chair of geography, earned the national Innovation in Equity Award from the National Recreation and Park Association. The award recognizes accomplishment in taking the lead to create an innovative project that improves access to the benefits of local parks and recreation for everyone in the community. The award was given to Ramsey County Parks and Recreation for the “Signs of Belonging” project, to which Professor Trudeau contributed. He expressed excitement about recognition from a national organization for the good work taking place in the Twin Cities, saying, “I feel proud to have contributed to it.” 

Following in Flemming’s footprints 

Arthur S. Flemming, Macalester president from 1968-1971, was a champion for access and was instrumental in creating the Equal Educational Opportunity Program. He also oversaw the creation of an office of minority programs and an African American Studies program, as well as an increase in the number of faculty and staff members of color. 

Decker Anstrom ’72, met Flemming during a 1968 march in St. Paul, sparking a lifelong friendship. Now a Macalester trustee, Anstrom and his spouse, Sherry Hiemstra, helped establish Macalester’s Flemming Scholars initiative to honor Flemming’s legacy. The initiative is aimed at providing funds to help students with some of the expenses involved in moving to Macalester and beginning college life, such as a laptop, a warm coat, linens for their dorm room and required course materials. By expanding the web of institutional support, the program intends to foster a sense of belonging for the college’s highest-need students.

Flemming’s contributions extended beyond Macalester — he served seven presidential administrations, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and championed social justice. The Arthur S. Flemming Awards, celebrating 75 years in 2024, continue to recognize public servants making an impact. Past recipients include Dr. Anthony Fauci and Neil Armstrong.

Prize-winning essay shines light on Victorian motherhood

English Professor Andrea Kaston Tange received the Donald Gray Prize for best journal essay in the field published in 2023 from the North American Victorian Studies Association — the main, interdisciplinary professional organization for 19th-century British studies scholars, which includes historians, archivists, art historians, and literature studies scholars. Her essay, “Gestures of Connection: Victorian Technologies of Photography and Visible Mothering,” was published in Victorian Studies. 

The judges noted that Dr. Tange’s essay “challenges conventional assumptions about the invisibility of Victorian mothers” and “provides a nuanced account of the conflicting imperatives of 19th-century women’s lives.” They described the essay as “eminently readable” and “written in fluid, clear, evocative prose deftly organized into a narrative arc.”

A world-class act 

Out of 8,536 institutions worldwide, Macalester ranked in the top 16 percent of universities in Study Abroad Aide’s 2025 World University Rankings for International Students. This assessment highlights Macalester’s excellence in providing high-quality education and fostering a supportive academic environment for international students. 

An ambassador for peace

Zhijun He ’26 was invited to serve as a Peace Ambassador for the Institute of Economics and Peace. 

“As someone deeply interested in amplifying Global South voices in development discourse, this role provides a platform to ensure that underrepresented perspectives are heard and incorporated into international peace-building strategies,” he said. He noted that it provides a unique opportunity to translate his research interests into real-world impact. 

“Applying my research on post-crisis reconstruction and community resilience to practical peace-building initiatives, I’ll explore how we can better integrate local expertise and indigenous knowledge into global peace efforts,” he said. 

“I’m thrilled to join a network of international peacebuilders from diverse fields,” he continued. “This program aligns perfectly with my goal of challenging conventional wisdom in development practices and exploring alternative paradigms that can empower underserved communities.” 

Bringing order to the court 

Macalester’s mock trial team sent three teams to compete at the University of Minnesota Nordic Undergraduate Mock Trial Battle, which was held at the Ramsey County Courthouse. One of the teams placed fourth. Team captains were Jean Pateman ’25 and Maita Mungah ’26, and members were Liam Klatsky ’27, Ian Machalek ’27, Owen Martin ’27, Kate Caulder ’27, Maren Fricke ’28, Sabri Abdusalam ’28, and Kofi Anyimadu ’28. In addition, mock trial student liaison Lily Morgan ’25 and Caulder won witness awards while Martin took home an attorney award.

How to be considered for future Maccolades

If you or someone you know recently earned an award, fellowship, or honor and would like it to be considered for inclusion in next month’s Maccolades, please let Communications & Marketing know by filling out this Maccolades form. For recent book publications, please use this book publication form.