"She's a leader who's very concerned in making sure that the team feels that it plays a critical part in the final project," Koutsoukos said.

The Fay Prize is given annually to the graduating senior who "has given evidence of the greatest promise" by her scholarship, conduct and character.

A Radcliffe committee accepts one recommendation from each house, Wilson makes the final decision. Interest from the fund pays the cash prize.

In awarding the Levi prize to deLima, Wilson listed her accomplishments in musical theater, including playing Countess Almaviva in Dunster House's "The Marriage of Figaro" and holding the title role in the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players' production of "Patience."

She was also one of the first proctors in the Freshman Arts Program and wrote and performed the one-women show, "What More Do I Need?"

Cabot Houses's deLima said she plans to seek a master in Vocal Performance.

"If I can make a living being a performer I'll be happy, but there's such a small likelihood of anybody making it that I'm not really counting on it," she said. "But I'll give it a shot for a couple of years