Princeton University Athletics
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Ltwt Rower James Agolia Named Pyne Prize Recipient; Florida Video Included
February 12, 2016 | Men's Rowing - Lightweight
Agolia, who has rowed in an IRA grand final in each of the last two years, is a member of the men's lightweight rowing team who rowed in both the 2V and 3V last season. He has earned both IRA All-Academic Honors and Academic All-Ivy honors to go along with his medals from rowing competitions.
"James manages all of these extracurricular pursuits at such a high level, all while smashing himself physically, on a daily basis, at the boathouse," head coach Marty Crotty said. "I'm so glad the Pyne Prize committee was able to recognize this. He truly does deserve Princeton's highest undergraduate honor, for squeezing every little bit out of the Princeton experience, and absolutely everything out of himself."
Per the University release:
Agolia, of Massapequa Park, New York, is a chemistry major. His academic honors include the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence in 2013 and 2014, the Peter N. Curtin Award for Excellence in Chemistry Research, and all-academic recognition from the Intercollegiate Rowing Association.
After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a surgeon and basic scientist in academic medicine.
"I am very grateful for the many academic and nonacademic opportunities that Princeton has given me, and I am thankful for all the people on campus who inspire me daily to be a better person," Agolia said. "It's very humbling to accept this award since so many outstanding students deserve it."
At Princeton, Agolia has pursued a wide range of academic and extracurricular interests. He has been a member of the varsity lightweight crew team; a residential college adviser in Wilson College; a member of the Nassoons, Princeton's oldest a cappella group; a residential college adviser in the Freshman Scholars Institute; and a member of the Aquinas Institute.
For his senior thesis, Agolia is studying de novo proteins — proteins that are created in a laboratory and don't exist in nature — for functions that could have applications in medicine and industry.
The project began during the summer of Agolia's sophomore year, when he conducted research in the lab of Michael Hecht, a professor of chemistry, as part of the Department of Chemistry's Leach Summer Scholars Program.
"The Leach Program was my first experience with research, and I quickly found that I loved it," Agolia said. "I could not ask for a better working environment than the Hecht Lab. The graduate students, undergraduate students, postdocs and of course my adviser, Professor Hecht, have been extremely supportive, enthusiastic and fun to work with."
Hecht said Agolia has demonstrated exceptional ability, maturity, collegiality and determination throughout his four years at Princeton.
"In the first semester of his freshman year, James took my course in general chemistry; during the summer after sophomore year and continuing into junior year, he worked in my research lab; and now James is doing his senior thesis research in my lab," Hecht said. "In all these contexts, James impressed me as a spectacular student and an excellent young scientist."