Princeton University has announced that seniors Braeden Carroll and Katie Daniels are the recipients of the 2026 Moses Taylor Pyne Honor Prize, considered the highest general distinction for undergraduates at the institution. The award, established in 1921, recognizes seniors who have demonstrated excellent scholarship, strong character, and effective leadership. Previous winners include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and former Princeton President Robert F. Goheen.
Carroll, from Kinnelon, New Jersey, is majoring in civil and environmental engineering. He has received several academic honors during his time at Princeton, including two George B. Wood Legacy Prizes and the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence. He is also an early inductee into Phi Beta Kappa and a member of the men’s varsity lightweight rowing team.
“I feel incredibly honored to win the Pyne Prize because it reflects the meaningful impacts I have had through my real commitments and curiosities,” Carroll said. He credited mentors, classmates, and teammates for their support.
Carroll’s academic interests span engineering as well as humanities and social sciences. “Princeton has given me so many incredible opportunities to challenge myself and expand my horizons,” he said. “The power of a liberal arts education has allowed me to supplement my engineering coursework with classes in history, economics, politics, religion and more. This intellectual diversity has reframed how I approach problem-solving, giving me the agility to cross disciplinary boundaries with unique solutions.”
He is recognized as a scholar-athlete with awards such as the Empacher-IRCA Scholar Athlete honor and was part of a national championship-winning crew in 2023. Carroll volunteers with STEM to Stern to help expand access to rowing for students from underresourced schools while supporting their STEM studies.
Branko Glišić, professor and chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton, described Carroll: “Had [Braeden] been born in the late medieval world, he would have been characterized as a Renaissance man… He is a wonderful, caring, erudite person who has many interests and builds memories with everyone he encounters. I truly believe that he represents the essence of the Pyne Prize.”
Carroll’s senior thesis focuses on structural analysis of historic timber barns in New Jersey—a project integrating sustainability concerns with engineering research—and continues work begun during his junior year independent study.
His interdisciplinary approach included fieldwork abroad; during his junior year he traveled to Greece for research on ancient architecture as part of HUM 417: “Historical Structures: Ancient Architecture’s Materials, Construction and Engineering.” Samuel Holzman from Art & Archaeology noted: “He has a knack for bringing humanistic depth to the study of applied sciences. His career interest in learning from historic buildings as a basis for future sustainable construction is the perfect embodiment of Princeton’s goal of national and humanity-wide service.”
Beyond academics Carroll interned with Blue Lab—an environmental storytelling group—co-producing a podcast on survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines; this work led to presentations at professional conferences.
Looking ahead after graduation Carroll plans to use skills developed at Princeton toward work in clean technology or sustainable energy fields. “When I look ahead to life after Princeton… I will be better prepared to connect with those around me, answer difficult questions, and overcome challenges in my path,” he said.
Daniels hails from Newtown, Pennsylvania; she majors in neuroscience with aspirations toward pediatric neurology as a physician-scientist. She too holds multiple academic distinctions—including being named early into Phi Beta Kappa—and won both Wood Legacy Prizes plus recognition by Princeton Neuroscience Institute for her thesis research.
Upon learning she had won: “I was genuinely shocked.” Daniels said her surprise soon turned into gratitude towards those who supported her journey at Princeton—family members along with professors/mentors/alumni peers were specifically cited.
“My time at Princeton has taught me to embrace uncertainties… find joy/purpose illuminating others’ journeys… take comfort knowing extended Tiger family always willing lend helping hand,” she said.
Asha Nambiar (director of accessibility/disability services) wrote that Daniels’ academic progress reflected resilience after high school concussions changed her college plans but prompted new focus on neuroscience rather than discouragement.
Daniels began working as an undergraduate researcher early on campus while taking rigorous courses outside her department such as molecular biology classes; she pursued additional research opportunities including clinical experience funded by civic service programs at Children’s National Hospital (Washington DC), resulting in published first-author manuscripts related to pediatric brain conditions like hydrocephalus.
Her advisor Daniel Notterman commended her rapid mastery of lab techniques: “Katie rapidly adapted… becoming an expert… This work resulted in an outstanding junior paper… likely first-author paper.” Daniels presented findings nationally—including before neurological surgeons—and collaborated on comparative analyses between different medical syndromes at Drexel University labs.
In addition to scientific pursuits Daniels contributed significantly through university leadership roles—as senior fellow advocating disability access/training peers/advising administrators on inclusive design—as well serving peer adviser roles within residential colleges plus teaching assistantships within core neuroscience labs.
She volunteers actively off-campus too; since 2023 Daniels logged over 500 hours responding alongside local first aid squads across more than 126 emergency calls.
“Outside classroom my experiences gave greater appreciation importance eliminating barriers accessing health/personal responsibility amplify voices not well understood,” Daniels stated regarding public service motivation post-Princeton (plans include graduate study at Cambridge followed by medical school).
Notterman concluded: “Katie Daniels embodies values Pyne Prize created honor… exceptional scholarship… sustained leadership/care/broader community responsibility.” Robert Keating (Children’s National) added praise for Daniels’ maturity/tenacity/integrity—qualities expected will serve her throughout medical training ahead.
