Exonians recognised at Encaenia 2026
Exeter College is delighted to share that two Exeter students were recognised for academic prizes at this year’s Encaenia ceremony, which took place at the Sheldonian Theatre on Wednesday 24 June 2026.
Elizabeth Cowen (2021, MBiomedsci Cell and Systems Biology) received the Gibbs Prize for the best performance in Final Honour Schools in Cell and Systems Biology and Neuroscience. Wanghua (Toby) Feng (2021, MPhys Physics) received the Scott Prize for the best performance in the MPhys examination.
Elizabeth was awarded the Gibbs Prize last summer after completing her Master’s project, which explored novel genetic targets for Parkinson’s disease. Reflecting on the recognition, she said: “I received the Gibbs Prize last Summer after finishing my Master’s project researching novel genetic targets for Parkinson’s disease. I was very pleased that my efforts throughout my degree had been rewarded. The prize is a reflection of the excellent teaching and support I received while at Exeter from Professor Neil Herring and Professor Kerry Walker who are both inspirations to me in their respective fields. I was surprised and delighted that it had been selected to be honoured at Encaenia and very excited to be invited to the event which was wonderful in the sunshine. It was a truly special occasion to witness such impressive and inspiring individuals be presented with their honorary degrees.”
Encaenia is the University of Oxford’s annual ceremony celebrating outstanding academic achievement and distinguished service. Each year, students who have achieved exceptional academic success are recognised alongside the presentation of honorary degrees to distinguished individuals. This year’s honorary degree recipients included former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern, tennis champion Billie Jean King and Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Daron Acemoğlu, among others.
Exeter College warmly congratulates Elizabeth and Toby on this well-deserved recognition and their outstanding academic achievements.
