Sophie Tedesco, a fourth-year student at the University of Chicago, has been honored with the institution's highest undergraduate award, the Hugo F. Sonnenschein Medal of Excellence. This accolade recognizes her leadership in justice reform and community advocacy.
Tedesco's academic and extracurricular focus over the past four years has centered on exploring alternatives to incarceration and advocating for individuals within the penal system. She emphasized that society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members and expressed a need for significant transformation in this area.
“This award is a recognition of the work I’ve been trying to do over the past four years, and also a call to action for myself and the university community—all of us—to keep fighting injustice and fight for a better world,” said Tedesco. She will graduate next week with degrees in public policy and law, letters, and society while also earning her master's degree in social sciences with a focus on sociology from UChicago. “I feel humbled to be receiving this award, and also in some ways woefully inadequate, because I am consistently awed by the work of my peers and organizations around Chicago and across the country to uphold this award’s principles.”
The Sonnenschein Medal of Excellence honors qualities associated with its namesake: hope, ambition for others, and courage of conviction. Melina Hale, dean of the College, praised Tedesco's achievements: “During her time in the College, Sophie has excelled in the classroom and as a student-athlete, in addition to making meaningful contributions to the community around her.”
Tedesco facilitated writing workshops at Cook County Jail where she built connections with incarcerated individuals. Her experiences highlighted systemic issues such as lack of access to housing, healthcare, and education.
“I think that reflecting on how we treat everyone...is fundamental to how we approach all issues,” Tedesco noted. She believes that community building within jails can lead to broader societal changes.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Tedesco competed as a student-athlete for UChicago’s cross-country and track teams. Her athletic achievements include participation in NCAA championships and recognition as an NCAA Postgraduate Scholar.
Following graduation, Tedesco plans to join Atlanta's Southern Center for Human Rights as an investigator. This role aligns with her long-term goals of advocating against mass incarceration.
Expressing gratitude towards those who supported her journey at UChicago, Tedesco stated: “I am grateful for the many people who show me the path forward every day... I am also immeasurably thankful for my family...”
Further details about past recipients of this medal are available online; nominations for next year's honoree begin later this year.