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PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
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Release: May 30, 1995
Contact: Tom Krattenmaker (609/258-5748)


Allison Kalben of Trumbull, Conn.,
Delivers Valedictory Address
at Princeton Commencement

John Van De Weert of Dryden, N.Y.,
Honored As Salutatorian

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Allison Kalben of Trumbull, Conn., and
John Van De Weert of Dryden, N.Y., represented the Class of
1995 as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, in
commencement exercises today at Princeton University.

Valedictorian

Kalben is graduating with highest honors from the
Chemistry Department. Among many previous awards, she has won
the Class of 1939 Princeton Scholar Award, the William Foster
Memorial Prize in Chemistry, a Barry M. Goldwater
Scholarship, and the Manfred Pyka Physics Prize. In addition,
she is co-winner of the Everett S. Wallis Prize in Organic
Chemistry and the Robert Thornton McCay Prize in Physical
Chemistry.

For her senior thesis, Kalben undertook studies of several
DNA-calicheamicin complexes to identify the structural
features responsible for binding selectivity. The research,
for which chemistry professor Daniel Kahne served as adviser,
was aimed at developing a design for other carbohydrate-based
DNA binders. Kalben has pursued related research while
working in Kahne's laboratory the last two summers.

Kalben next fall will begin an MD-PhD program at Harvard
Medical School, where she plans to do research in biological
chemistry. She hopes eventually to pursue an academic career.

Among several extracurricular activities, Kalben has
been an officer in the Equestrian Club and Kappa Kappa Gamma
sorority.

Kalben is the daughter of Paul and Sharon Kalben of
Trumbull.

Salutatorian

Van De Weert, who came to Princeton as a National Merit
Scholar, finished third out of 15 contestants while competing
two years ago in the College Tournament of the television
show "Jeopardy," winning almost a year's tuition.

A classics major, Van De Weert wrote his senior thesis on
the late ninth-century Swiss monk Notker Balbulus, who was
known for religious compositions called "sequences" and a
history of the life of Charlemagne.

Van De Weert will enter law school next fall at the
University of Chicago.

Outside of his studies at Princeton, Van De Weert served
one year as president of Stevenson Hall, a university dining
and social organization, and also served as board member and
president of the Westminster Foundation, the campus
Presbyterian group.

As is required of Princeton's salutatorian, Van De Weert
has strong ability in Latin, the language in which the
salutatory address is composed and delivered.

He is the son of John and Henrietta Van De Weert of
Dryden.

Selection Procedure

According to university rules and procedures, the
valedictorian and salutatorian are recommended by the
Committee on Examinations and Standing and confirmed by a
vote of the faculty.

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