Colby-Sawyer Award

The Colby-Sawyer Award is given to the senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, best exemplifies the ideals of the college in personal dignity, intellectual growth, contribution to campus life and constructive influence on other students.

Deepesh Duwadi ’17

Deepesh Duwadi, a biology major with a minor in chemistry from Dhading, Nepal, is recognized across campus as a scholar and leader.

An active member of the Colby-Sawyer community, Deepesh has served as a resident assistant for Burpee Hall, is a member of the Presidential Blue Key Society and is president of the Biology Club. He also volunteered in New London Hospital’s Emergency Department.

A Dean’s List and Wesson Honors student, Deepesh was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. “His drive to learn is inspirational,” said a faculty member in nominating him for the Colby-Sawyer Award.

Deepesh has devoted much of his time to pursuing groundbreaking research. Last summer, he was one of six students selected to complete a research assistantship on honeybees and bumblebees with New Hampshire IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence. He spent the last year testing peptides against bacteria on mice at Dartmouth for his senior Capstone project.

As a member of the Wesson Honors Program, Deepesh organized a trip to Nepal and led his peers in providing relief efforts following the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. He has also received Wesson Honors IDEA grants to fund independent projects, including a recent trip to Honduras to provide medical assistance alongside a team of doctors. With the help of another student, Deepesh received outside funding to start a battery recycling initiative in a rural Nepali district.

“There is no doubt that Deepesh will go far, and will be an alumnus of whom Colby-Sawyer will be proud,” said a faculty nominator.