Elise X. Liu ’11, a Social Studies concentrator from Cabot House, was awarded the 111th Annual Jacob Wendell Scholarship Prize last night at the Harvard Faculty Club.

The Wendell Prize, established in 1899, is awarded each year to a Harvard sophomore who exhibits extraordinary academic achievement and contributes to the Harvard community.

About 40 guests, comprised of faculty members including Dean of Freshmen Thomas A. Dingman ’67, and several former Wendell Prize winners, attended the reception.

The award requires an extensive application process.

Students who obtain a GPA of at least 3.67 in their freshman year are typically invited to apply for the prize. To be considered, students must enter a written application, including an essay submission. The application also requires two recommendations from professors.

Recipients of the award receive up to $5000 to be used for summer projects, renewed again after one year.

The projects must be approved by the Wendell Prize selection committee to receive funding.

According to Noah Feldman, a Harvard Law School professor and a member Wendell selection committee, over 200 applications were received this year. After two cuts and an interview process, Liu was ultimately selected as the winner.

“This is an incredible honor,” Liu said of her prize.

For her application, Liu submitted an essay from her Expository Writing 20 class, which had been featured in this year’s Exposé.

The essay, titled “The Infamous Hourglass: Constructing the Perfect Female Figure,” focused on the history of the corset.

Liu’s family drove from Pittsburgh, Pa., to be with her as she received this honor.

“I am very proud of Elise for winning this award,” Helen Wang, Elise’s mother, said.

“I am pleased that she got the opportunity to work over the summer in a field she’s interested in,” she said.

Liu will use the money from the award to work this summer at the Legal Resources Centre, a nongovernmental organization in South Africa.