The Dr. Finbarr O’Connor Prize for Shifting the Paradigm is $15,000 available to members of the Arcadia community—students, alumni, faculty, staff, and parents—who challenge conventional thinking, solve problems in their field, or address issues in their local and global communities through discovery, critical analysis, logic, and creativity. The revolutionary discoveries that develop innovation deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated.
It recognizes change agents who have used innovation to create fundamental change, shifting the paradigm they faced.
The Finbarr O’Connor Prize in Shifting the Paradigm seeks to recognize novelty in solution-based problem solving and rewards people who shift a major change in how people think through the innovative programs or projects they lead.
The O’Connor Prize is established through the philanthropic support of Suneet P. Chauhan, MD ’79, ’18H and his wife, Laurie Pitchford, and is named in honor of Dr. Finbarr.
Meet Our Past Winners
2024: One Million Dollar Team
The Arcadia Public Art Project was created by Ms. Abbey Ryan ’03, Associate Professor, Visual and Performing Arts; Prof. Maryann E. Worrell ’05, Adjunct Professor and Art Education Advisor; Ms. Krista G. Profitt ’11, Artist. and Mr. David Guinn.
2022: Arcadia Public Art Project
Arcadia University alumnus David Smith EdD ’00 was awarded the 2024 Dr. Finbarr O’Connor Prize for Shifting the Paradigm, which this year is a $15,000 prize, for his project, “One Million Dollar Team.” This project teaches middle school students to help eliminate systemic poverty through the empowerment of microloans in the U.S. and abroad.
2021: Meg Eubank ’05, ’07MEd
Past Winners
2024: Arcadia University alumnus David Smith EdD ’00 was awarded the 2024 Dr. Finbarr O’Connor Prize for Shifting the Paradigm, which this year is a $15,000 prize, for his project, “One Million Dollar Team.” This project teaches middle school students to help eliminate systemic poverty through the empowerment of microloans in the U.S. and abroad.
2022: Arcadia Public Art Project (Ms. Abbey Ryan ’03, Associate Professor, Visual and Performing Arts; Prof. Maryann E. Worrell ’05, Adjunct Professor and Art Education Advisor; Ms. Krista G. Profitt ’11, Artist. and Mr. David Guinn)
2021: Meg Eubank ’05, ’07MEd
