Nicholas Dill BA ’25 is the winner of this year’s Rena J. Ratte Award, the undergraduate college’s highest academic honor. The award recognizes excellence in scholastic, intellectual, and creative achievements, and is presented during the undergraduate Honors Convocation ceremony preceding commencement in May.
We caught up with Dill to learn more about his experiences at Lewis & Clark and his path to the Ratte Award.
Nicholas Dill (he/him)
Hometown: Hockinson, Washington
Majors: Mathematics and Computer Science (double)
Extracurriculars: Violin, Photography
Languages: Spanish
What was your reaction to winning the Rena Ratte Award?
It was quite the shock at the Honors Convocation when Dean Bruce Suttmeier slowly announced that I had won the award. I was sitting with my classmates from the math and computer science departments, and there was a great deal of celebration and camaraderie when we realized a student from our department had won the award.
Why did you choose to attend L&C?
Having taken several classes at L&C in high school as a Templeton Scholar, I chose to attend the college for its small class sizes and close access to faculty. From my high school experiences at the college, I was already familiar with the superb pedagogy available at L&C.
What parts of the L&C experience helped shape your path?
Over my time at L&C, I was lucky to be able to study many different subjects. As someone who loves math, I found my major courses fascinating and influential to my thinking. My favorites included differential equations, topology, and abstract algebra. My thesis and independent studies were also a highlight. Being able to pursue the math of my choice in an open-ended environment was both freeing and an exercise in perseverance.
Outside of math, I greatly enjoyed courses in biology and chemistry. As a nature lover, I found it fascinating to learn more about the competing systems whose delicate balance make up the natural world. Also, I don’t want to understate the importance of being in an environment with like-minded students and faculty. Almost every single day in the math department lounge, students and faculty would be gathered to discuss art, current events, or their personal interests.
Who were your faculty mentors?
There are too many to name, but I must mention my mentors in the math department, Liz Stanhope [professor of mathematics], Iva Stavrov [professor of mathematics], and Paul Allen [associate professor of mathematics]. I’ll always appreciate their ceaseless dedication to learning—but even more so to their students.
What do you think makes L&C special?
The faculty. The care that the faculty has for the success and learning of their students is truly wonderful. Countless times, I have seen faculty go above and beyond to help students, both academically and personally.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I plan to continue pursuing my math, violin, and photography. In the short term, I will be spending as much time outdoors as I can get away with. I just got back from spending a week doing off-grid camping and photography with a couple of professional photographers in Olympic National Park. Next, I’ll be going to the southern Oregon coast.
Your sister, Kristina Dill BA ’16, was a finalist for the Ratte Award back when she was a student. What are your thoughts on continuing the family tradition?
There was definitely some déjà vu sitting at the ceremony this year and waiting for the award to be announced, as I remembered sitting at my sister’s event back in 2016. I think it speaks to the strengths of L&C that, while we are very different people with different interests, we both had excellent experiences at the school.
Mathematics Computer Science Faculty and Student Awards
