About The Awards

These awards honor the memory of Ted Shapiro, an American Studies major, class of 1982, who died in a drowning accident a year after graduating. His parents, Aaron and Elaine Shapiro, searched for a way to memorialize Teddy's life. They established the Ted Shapiro Memorial Fund, the income from which makes it possible to award grants annually to American Studies majors. These awards allow American Studies students to pursue summer travel plans that incorporate opportunities for personal and academic growth. In some cases, the Shapiro Awards have been the backbone of the students' Senior Special Projects or Honors Theses. The awards are available to sophomores and juniors at Tufts University who have declared American Studies as their major.