Leora I. Horwitz '96 was awarded last Wednesday the Captain Jonathan Fay Prize, Radcliffe College's most prestigious undergraduate award.

The Fay award is presented annually to the graduating senior woman who "has given evidence of greatest promise" by her scholarship, conduct, and character during her four years at Harvard.

"By being accorded this honor, [Horwitz] joins a unique community of women who have used their extraordinary talents to advance our society," said Radcliffe College President Linda S. Wilson.

Horwitz accepted the prize with modesty and grace.

"I'm honored because the one thing I've learned here is that everybody is tremendously talented," Horwitz said last night. "My parents are really proud."

Horwitz is a Social Studies concentrator and is a resident of Currier House and Great Neck, N.Y.

Horwitz said she will spend this summer in Israel and plans to enter Harvard Medical School this fall.

She plans to pursue a career in clinical and academic medicine.

Her research on electrophysiology has been published in the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Horwitz also played cello in the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, edited the Currier House facebook, performed public service projects in Boston and Dorchester and was a first-year prefect.

As the Fay Prize recipient, Horwitz will receive the only Latin diploma bestowed at commencement.

C.R. McFadden contributed to the reporting of this story.